Blood Count
*Answer:* Obtain a sputum sample for Gram stain and culture, a blood culture (since the case is moderate severity), a full blood count, CRP, urea/electrolytes, and a chest radiograph (already done).
What our notes say
- *Answer:* Obtain a sputum sample for Gram stain and culture, a blood culture (since the case is moderate severity), a full blood count, CRP, urea/electrolytes, and a chest radiograph (already done). (Pneumonia)
- | Complete blood count (CBC) | Is there leukocytosis or polycythaemia? | Elevated WBC → bacterial infection or severe inflammation; raised haemoglobin/haematocrit → chronic hypoxaemia (polycythaemia) in long‑standing chronic bronchitis. | (Bronchitis (Acute and Chronic))
- Hyponatraemia, rash (HLA-B*1502 risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome in some Asian populations), blood count changes. | (Introduction to Psychopharmacology)
- Routine tests to confirm or rule out medical conditions, prescribed medicines or illicit drug use as causes of psychiatric conditions: complete blood count, urine toxicology, kidney and liver function, thyroid function and autoimmune tests. (Psychiatry and Mental Health Curriculum: Year 4 (MKU))
- Complete blood count, urine toxicology, kidney and liver function tests, thyroid function tests and autoimmune tests, with imaging such as CT scan, MRI, EEG and ECG where needed. (Psychiatry and Mental Health Curriculum: Year 4 (MKU))
- | Cotrimoxazole | Sulphonamide combination | High-dose for Pneumocystis pneumonia in HIV | Rash, high potassium, low blood count | (Pneumonia)
Study material on Blood Count
- Internal Medicine (MBIM 4100) main exam, Paper One: 3 July 2019
- Haematology Exam 2025: MCQs on Anaemia, Leukaemia & Clotting
- hsd haematology
- Internal Medicine (MBIM 4100) special/supplementary exam, Paper Two: 14 August 2019
- Sickle cell disease
- Haematology End of Year 2025 Past Paper — MKU MBML 3200 Questions & Answers
- Paediatrics Senior Clerkship end of 2nd semester exam: 4 October 2021, 50 MCQs
- HEMATOLOGY EOY 2025
- Haematology paper 1 Past Papers
- Antimicrobial selection, stewardship and resistance
- Haematology Exam 2025: MCQs on Anaemia, Leukaemia & Clotting
- Hematology Exam MCQs: Anemia, Leukemia, Coagulation Prep
- Weekly Pathology Exam - July 24, 2026 (Section A: MCQs)
- Weekly Pathology Exam - July 17, 2026 (Section A: MCQs)
- Weekly Pathology Exam - July 10, 2026 (Section A: MCQs)
- Weekly Pathology Exam - July 3, 2026 (Section A: MCQs)
Practice questions on Blood Count
A 28-year-old woman presents with fatigue and pallor. Complete blood count shows low haemoglobin level and peripheral blood film shows microcytic hypochromic red blood cells. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- Aplastic anaemia
- Haemolytic anaemia
- Iron deficiency anaemia
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
Answer: C. Microcytic hypochromic red cells reflect impaired haemoglobin synthesis, classically caused by iron deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency instead causes macrocytic anaemia; the other options don't typically present with this cell morphology.
A 62-year-old man presents with fatigue, fever and bruising. His full blood count shows WCC 40×10⁹/L with 25% circulating blasts, Hb 90 g/L and platelets 50×10⁹/L. Which investigation is required to definitively diagnose acute myeloid leukaemia?
- Bone marrow aspirate and trephine biopsy
- Computed tomography scan
- Flow cytometry of peripheral blood
- Peripheral blood smear
Answer: A. Although the peripheral smear already shows circulating blasts, definitive diagnosis and subclassification of AML require bone marrow examination — combining morphology, cytochemistry, immunophenotyping, and cytogenetic/molecular analysis.
A 55-year-old man presents with fatigue, weight loss and splenomegaly. His full blood count shows WCC 140 × 10⁹/L with marked neutrophilia, left shift and basophilia. Which investigation is required to confirm the diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukaemia?
- Peripheral blood smear only
- Bone marrow aspirate and trephine biopsy with cytogenetic analysis
- Quantitative RT-PCR for BCR-ABL transcripts
- JAK2 V617F mutation analysis
Answer: B. Marrow examination with cytogenetics confirms the Philadelphia chromosome, establishing the definitive CML diagnosis alongside molecular BCR-ABL testing.
A patient presents with a severe bacterial infection. Which type of leukocyte would you expect to be significantly elevated in their blood count?
- Eosinophils
- Basophils
- Neutrophils
- Lymphocytes
Answer: C. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are typically the first responders to bacterial infections, making their count elevated during such conditions (neutrophilia).