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Getting results in clinical pathology 2. Pros and cons of in‐clinic haematological testing
Author(s) -
Pinches Mark
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inpract.28.3.144
Subject(s) - cons , medicine , hematology , intensive care medicine , disease , hematologic tests , diagnostic test , pathology , medical physics , pediatrics , programming language , health services , population , environmental health , computer science
HAEMATOLOGICAL testing is used both for routine health monitoring and as an aid to diagnosis. An erythrogram provides information about the oxygen‐carrying capacity of the blood, the health of the bone marrow and many other disease processes. A leukogram, meanwhile, provides information about immune system function, the presence of inflammation and infection, and can even raise the suspicion of endocrinopathy or neoplasia. Haematology analysers have replaced manual methods of evaluation in many veterinary clinics, but it should be remembered that, in some instances, the results produced may not provide all the answers to a diagnostic problem. This article reviews a number of haematology analysers commonly used in practice and discusses their limitations to help clinicians critically assess the output from such systems.