Anaemia Blood Tests in Leicester

Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) measures blood clotting time, assessing the intrinsic and common pathways. It helps monitor heparin therapy and detect bleeding disorders. Prolonged aPTT may indicate clotting factor deficiencies or anticoagulant presence.

A blood film is a lab test where a drop of blood is spread on a slide, stained, and examined under a microscope. It helps assess red and white blood cell morphology, count, and detect abnormalities like infections, anaemia, leukaemia, and blood parasites (e.g., malaria).

Vitamin B12 is essential for red blood cell production, nerve function, and DNA synthesis. Deficiency can cause anaemia, fatigue, and neurological issues. It’s found in animal products, and low levels are often seen in vegans, the elderly, or those with absorption problems.

Folate (vitamin B9) is crucial for DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation, and cell growth. Folate deficiency can cause anaemia, fatigue, and birth defects during pregnancy. It’s found in leafy greens, legumes, and fortified foods. Testing helps detect deficiency or monitor supplementation.

Factor 8c Assay (FVIII: C) measures the activity of clotting factor VIII, essential for blood coagulation. It helps diagnose haemophilia A and monitor treatment. Low levels indicate a bleeding disorder, while normal or high levels suggest normal clotting function or other conditions.

A Full Blood Count (FBC) measures levels of red cells, white cells, haemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. It helps diagnose infections, anaemia, leukaemia, and other blood disorders by assessing overall blood health and detecting imbalances or abnormalities.

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body. A ferritin test helps assess iron levels and detect iron deficiency or overload. Low ferritin indicates iron deficiency anaemia, while high levels may suggest inflammation, liver disease, or iron overload conditions like hemochromatosis.

Haemoglobin levels indicate the amount of oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. Low levels suggest anaemia, causing fatigue and weakness, while high levels may result from dehydration or lung diseases. It’s key for assessing overall oxygen delivery and blood health.

Fibrinogen is a blood protein essential for clot formation. It’s converted to fibrin during clotting to stop bleeding. Elevated fibrinogen levels may indicate inflammation or risk of clotting, while low levels can lead to bleeding disorders or liver disease.

Iron is a vital mineral needed for making haemoglobin in red blood cells, which carries oxygen. An iron test measures blood iron levels to diagnose anaemia or iron overload. Low iron suggests deficiency or blood loss; high levels may indicate hemochromatosis or chronic disease.

Haemoglobin electrophoresis separates different types of haemoglobin in blood to identify abnormal variants. It helps diagnose disorders like sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia, and other haemoglobinopathies by detecting abnormal haemoglobin patterns.

Platelet count measures the number of platelets in blood, essential for clotting and stopping bleeding. Low counts (thrombocytopenia) increase bleeding risk, while high counts (thrombocytosis) can cause clotting problems or indicate inflammation or bone marrow disorders.

Prothrombin Time (PT) measures how long blood takes to clot via the extrinsic and common pathways. It’s used to monitor warfarin therapy and detect clotting disorders. Prolonged PT may indicate liver disease, vitamin K deficiency, or coagulation factor abnormalities.

Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC) measures the blood’s capacity to bind iron with transferrin. It helps evaluate iron status—high TIBC suggests iron deficiency, while low TIBC may indicate inflammation, infection, or iron overload conditions.

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) measures the average size of red blood cells. Low MCV indicates microcytic anaemia (e.g., iron deficiency), while high MCV suggests macrocytic anaemia (e.g., B12 or folate deficiency). It helps classify types of anaemia for diagnosis and treatment.

Von Willebrand Factor Antigen (vWF\: Ag) measures the amount of von Willebrand factor protein in blood. It helps diagnose von Willebrand disease and other bleeding disorders. Low levels indicate a deficiency, causing a bleeding risk, while high levels may occur in inflammation or stress.

Transferrin saturation measures the percentage of transferrin (an iron-transport protein) that is bound to iron. It helps assess iron status. Low saturation indicates iron deficiency, while high levels suggest iron overload, such as in hemochromatosis or chronic liver disease.

White Blood Cell (WBC) Count measures the total number of WBCs, vital for immune defence. The differential breaks down types: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Changes indicate infections, inflammation, allergies, or blood disorders like leukaemia.

The vWF activity test, also called the Ristocetin Cofactor Test, measures how well von Willebrand factor helps platelets clump together. It’s used to diagnose von Willebrand disease and assess bleeding risk. Low activity indicates defective or insufficient vWF function.