Haematology and Blood Transfusion

Haematology and Blood Transfusion

• 1939: Rhesus blood group was discovered, leading to the understanding of Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN)
• Other blood group systems are now known, highlighting the importance of studying Haematology and Blood Transfusion

Functions of the Haematology Laboratory

• Establish a diagnosis or rule out a diagnosis
• Confirm a physician's clinical impression of a possible hematological disorder
• Detect an unsuspected disorder
• Monitor the effects of therapy
• Detect minimal residual disease following therapy
• Perform functions like making a diagnosis, carrying out research, preparing safe blood products, and reporting laboratory results accurately

Safety in Haematology Laboratory

• Many conditions in the laboratory have the potential for causing injury to staff and damage to the building or community
• Managers and employees must be knowledgeable about safe work practices and incorporate these into the laboratory operation
• The key to preventing accidents and laboratory-acquired infections is a well-defined safety program

Biohazards and Chemical Hazards

• Biohazards include hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Chemical hazards must be handled with care to prevent accidents

Applicable Safety Practices Required by the OSHA Standard

• Handwashing is essential
• Eating, drinking, smoking, and applying cosmetics or lip balm are prohibited in the laboratory work area
• Hands, pens, and other fomites must be kept away from the worker's mouth and all mucous membranes
• Food and drink must not be kept in the same refrigerator as laboratory specimens or reagents
• Mouth pipetting is prohibited
• Needles and other sharp objects contaminated with blood and other potentially infectious materials must be handled with care
• Contaminated sharps must be placed in a puncture-resistant container with the universal biohazard symbol
• Procedures that may produce splashing, spraying, or droplets must be performed behind a barrier or with protective eyewear

Housekeeping and Disinfection

• Work surfaces must be cleaned when procedures are completed and whenever the bench area or floor becomes visibly contaminated
• An appropriate disinfectant solution is household bleach in a 1:10 volume/volume dilution (10%)
• Bleach solution must be made fresh daily and labeled properly
• Other solutions used to decontaminate include phenol-based disinfectants, tuberculocidal disinfectants, and 70% ethanol
• Documentation of the disinfection of work areas and equipment after each shift is required

Laundry and Personal Protective Equipment

• Non-disposable laboratory coats must be placed in appropriate containers for transport to the laundry
• Laboratory workers should receive the HBV vaccination series at no cost before or within 10 days after beginning work in the laboratory

Hepatitis B Virus Vaccination and Post-Exposure Evaluation

• Employees must sign a release form if they refuse the vaccination series
• Post-exposure evaluation and follow-up, including prophylaxis and medical consultation, should be made available at no cost to the employee

Training and Documentation

• Hematology staff should be properly educated in epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne diseases, modes of transmission, use of protective equipment, and work practices
• Employees should be encouraged to report all exposure incidents, and such reporting should be enforced as standard policy

Blood Cell Counts and Their Clinical Applications

• RBC: Men: 4.5 – 5.5 x 10^12/L, Women: 3.8 – 4.8 x 10^12/L
• WBC-Total: 4.0 – 10.0 x 10^9/L
• WBC-Differential: Neutrophils: 2.0 – 7.0 x 10^9/L (40 – 80%), Lymphocytes: 1.0 – 3.0 x 10^9/L (20 – 40%)
• Blood cell counts have clinical applications in diseases such as Erythrocytosis, Leucopenia, Leucocytosis, Neutropenia, and Lymphocytosis

This quiz covers the importance of studying haematology and blood transfusion, including the functions of a hematology laboratory and its role in diagnosing hematological disorders.