A complete blood test or CBC refers to a blood test procedure that measures the amounts and sizes of your red blood cells, haemoglobin, white blood cells, and platelets. Your doctor may recommend this test to monitor and diagnose some medical conditions and check on your immune system. 

What Can CBC Test Check? 

A CBC test can detect: 

• Anaemia. 

• Leukocytosis. 

• Erythrocytosis. 

• Thrombocytosis. 

• Leukopenia. 

• Thrombocytopenia. 

How Does a CBC Test Work? 

A CBC test measures the following: 

• Red blood count. 

• Haemoglobin. 

• Haematocrit. 

• Mean corpuscular volume (MCV). 

• Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH). 

• Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). 

• Red cell distribution width (RDW). 

• Platelet count. 

• Mean platelet volume (MPV). 

• White blood cell count. 

• Neutrophils. 

• Lymphocytes. 

• Monocytes. 

• Eosinophils. 

• Basophils. 

• Immature granulocytes. 

What Happens During a CBC Test? 

CBC test is a normal blood test. Your doctor will draw some blood from your arm and send this sample to a laboratory for test. 

Blood smear refers to a procedure that your doctors use to examine your red, white blood cells, and platelets under a microscope. Your doctor may order a blood smear along with a complete blood count or CBC for an overall analysis. 

What Does a Blood Smear Show? 

During the procedure, a blood smear may show: 

• Change in your blood cell and platelet size and shape of a blood disorder. 

• Change in the number or count of your blood cells and platelets. 

• Abnormal changes in any of your white blood cell types. 

Why Do You Require a Blood Smear? 

Your doctor may recommend a blood smear if you have: 

• Leukaemia. 

• Myelodysplastic syndrome. 

• Anaemia. 

• Heart failure. 

• Autoimmune diseases. 

• Lymphoma. 

• Malaria. 

Bone marrow is the place where your body produces blood cells. A bone marrow biopsy is performed to diagnose conditions affecting your blood and bone marrow. During the procedure, your doctor removes a small sample of marrow from inside your bone. 

Why Do You Need a Bone Marrow Biopsy? 

You may need a bone marrow biopsy to: 

• Evaluate and diagnose a medical condition. 

• Stage cancer. 

• Monitor your treatment progress. 

Which Diseases Are Diagnosed by Bone Marrow Biopsy? 

A bone marrow biopsy can diagnose: 

• Anaemia. 

• Aplastic anaemia. 

• Thrombocytopenia. 

• Leukopenia. 

• Leukaemia. 

• Lymphoma. 

• Multiple myeloma. 

• Secondary cancers include breast or lung cancer. 

What Happens During a Bone Marrow Biopsy? 

The entire process may take up to 30 minutes. During the procedure, your doctor will: 

• Give you a sedative to relax. 

• Ask you to lie on your side or your belly (depending on the biopsy site). 

• Clean your skin with antiseptic and apply a numbing medication. 

• Make a small incision at the site and insert a biopsy needle into your bone. 

• Attach an empty syringe to the needle and remove the liquid from your bone marrow. 

• Also, remove a small piece of sponge-like tissue from your bone. 

• Remove the needle and apply a bandage to the wound. 

What Happens After a Bone Marrow Biopsy? 

If you have received a sedative, you will likely be in the hospital for some time and go home on the same day. 

Coagulation study or prothrombin time (PT) measures how quickly your blood clots. When you are bleeding, certain proteins called coagulation factors get active to form a clot and prevent blood loss. Prothrombin is one of these coagulation factors that is produced by your liver. 

When is a Coagulation Study Performed? 

You may require a coagulation study to: 

• Monitor how your blood thinner or warfarin is working. 

• Plan surgery. 

• Diagnose blood clotting disorders or bleeding. 

• Diagnose a liver condition. 

What Happens During a Coagulation Study? 

During the procedure, your doctor will: 

• Rub your skin with alcohol and put an elastic band around your upper arm. 

• Ask you to make a fist to help your blood flow easily. 

• Insert a needle to collect blood into a vial. 

• Bandage the area and send your blood sample to the laboratory. 

A blood transfusion refers to a procedure during which donated blood or blood components are given to you through an intravenous line. This is done to replace blood and blood components that are low. 

Why Do You Need a Blood Transfusion?

You may need a blood transfusion if you have lost a lot of blood from an injury or during surgery, or if you have certain medical conditions, including: 

• Cancer. 

• Haemophilia. 

• Anaemia. 

• Sickle cell disease. 

What Are Blood Components? 

Apart from whole blood, a blood transfusion also provides some blood components, viz., 

• Cryoprecipitate. 

• Plasma. 

• Platelets. 

• Red blood cells. 

What Happens During a Blood Transfusion? 

Before your transfusion, your doctor will: 

• Check your body temperature, blood pressure, and pulse. 

• Match your blood type with the donor's blood type. 

During your transfusion, your doctor will: 

• Recheck your blood pressure and pulse after 15 minutes. 

• Recheck your blood pressure and pulse at the end of the transfusion. 

What Are the Reactions Associated with Blood Transfusion? 

Although rare, some people may experience reactions, including: 

• Fevers, chills, or rashes. 

• Breathing troubles. 

• Haemolytic transfusion reaction during which your immune system tries to destroy transfused red blood cells.

Thrombolysis or thrombolytic therapy refers to dissolving blood clots with medications. The therapy aims to reduce the damage to your body organs when there are clots by improving blood flow. 

Why Do You Need Thrombolysis? 

You may need thrombolysis, if you have: 

• A blood clot that is blocking your vein or artery. 

• Taken blood thinning medications but failed to dissolve the clot. 

• Heart attack. 

• Blockages in your coronary artery. 

• Ischemic stroke. 

• Blood clots in your lungs. 

• Sudden decrease in your blood flow. 

What Happens During Thrombolysis? 

• Systemic Thrombolysis 

• During this procedure, your doctor will: 

• Give you a sedative to relax. 

• Use a local anaesthetic to numb the area. 

• Insert an IV line into your vein and let the thrombolytic medication enter your bloodstream until it reaches the clot. 

• Remove the IV and close the incision. 

• Catheter-directed Thrombolysis 

During this procedure, your doctor will: 

• Give you a sedative to relax. 

• Use a local anaesthetic to numb the area. 

• Make an incision in your neck, arm, or groin and place a catheter through a vein. 

• Put the medication into the catheter to enter the bloodstream and reach the clot. 

• Remove the catheter and close the incision. 

What Happens After the Procedure? 

After the procedure, your doctor will run some imaging tests to check if your blood clot is completely removed.  

What Are the Risks Associated with Thrombolysis? 

Thrombolysis is safe. It may, however, cause: 

• Bleeding or bruising at the site of IV or catheter. 

• Allergic reaction. 

• Bleeding in the nose or urine. 

• Kidney damage. 

• Swollen tissue.