Clinical Utility of Blood Cell Histogram Interpretation

J Clin Diagn Res. 2017 Sep;11(9):OE01-OE04. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2017/28508.10620. Epub 2017 Sep 1.

Abstract

An automated haematology analyser provides blood cell histograms by plotting the sizes of different blood cells on X-axis and their relative number on Y-axis. Histogram interpretation needs careful analysis of Red Blood Cell (RBC), White Blood Cell (WBC) and platelet distribution curves. Histogram analysis is often a neglected part of the automated haemogram which if interpreted well, has significant potential to provide diagnostically relevant information even before higher level investigations are ordered.

Keywords: Automated haematology analyser; Coulter principle; Platelet histogram; RBC histogram; WBC histogram.

Publication types

  • Review