What is Haematology?
Haematology is the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the blood and blood-forming organs. Such disorders may involve the:
- components of blood (cells and plasma)
- coagulation (blood clotting) process
- blood cell formation
- haemoglobin (oxygen-carrying protein on red blood cells) synthesis.
To help in the diagnosis of blood disorders, you will probably have to have blood samples taken for analysis in the laboratory. These may include:
FBC (Full Blood Count): gives information on the number of cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets) in your blood.
ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate): a screening test that may give an indication of inflammatory disease or abnormal protein levels.
INR (International Normalised Ratio): monitors your clotting function when on warfarin (anticoagulant/anticlotting) therapy.
Coagulation/Clotting Screen: a group of tests to check coagulation or clotting function.
Doctors who specialise in haematology are called haematologists.