Blood Disorders

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Blood Disorder Objectives

Describe the types of information provided in CBC and CS blood tests.
Explain the effects of low platelet numbers and sickle-shaped red blood cells.
Diagnose different RBC and WBC blood disorders.

Blood tests are frequently used to diagnose or rule out potential disease conditions. This page starts with a look at commonly used blood tests that could reveal a wide range of disorders. Then we will focus in on blood disorders, problems with the blood cells and platelets that can have a significant impact on health.

Two of the most common blood tests are the CBC (complete blood count) that gives information on blood cells; and the CS (chem screen) that gives information on the blood plasma.

A low platelet count on a CBC may explain excessive bruising. In this video we’ll take a look at the impact of reduced platelets and learn about the stages of bruising that we all experience after impact to the skin.

One serious blood disorder is sickle cell anemia. It has a genetic basis and an intriguing relationship to a completely different mosquito-borne disease: malaria. This video describes sickle cell and how being a carrier for the disease may be an advantage in parts of the world with malaria.

On this guide’s quiz, you will be making a diagnosis of four patient’s blood. This video introduces the four possible blood disorders the patients can have. One of the disorders is sickle cell anemia.

While watching this video, you may wonder why producing too many white blood cells is dangerous. This can have several reasons: the excessive white blood cells may not function properly, they may attack healthy tissues instead of pathogens, other blood cells may not be sufficiently produces, and this takes nutrients away from other body processes.

This video shows the four patient’s blood samples you will be discussing in the quiz. Decide which blood disorder each patient (A, B, C, and D) has and include your rationale for each diagnosis in your notes.

The next section is a look at the risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases.

Check your knowledge. Can you:

describe the types of information provided in CBC and CS blood tests?
explain the effects of low platelet numbers and sickle-shaped red blood cells?
diagnose different RBC and WBC blood disorders?