| red blood cell count | A normal value is 4.6-6.2 million RBC's per cubic millimetre of blood. This number can increase in cases of dehydration (fluid loss) or severe lung disease. Interestingly, red blood cell counts are much higher in those who live at high altitude, because of the increased demand for oxygen carrying capacity. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| red blood cell indices | Laboratory measurements of red blood cell volume, size and haemoglobin concentration. These values are used to point to the specific cause for anaemia (iron deficiency, B12 deficiency, etc.) (27 Sep 1997) |
| renal blood flow, effective | The amount of blood flowing to the parts of the kidney that are involved with the production of constituents of urine. It is that portion of the total renal blood flow that perfuses functional renal tissue (e.g., the glomeruli). It should be differentiated from renal plasma flow, effective which is based on the amount of plasma rather than on total renal blood. (12 Dec 1998) |
| retinal blood vessels | The blood vasculature of the retina, including the branches and tributaries of the central retinal artery and vein, respectively, and the vascular circle of the optic nerve. Synonym: vasa sanguinea retinae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| percutaneous umbilical blood sampling | See: PUBS. (12 Dec 1998) |
| peripheral blood stem cell transplantation | A procedure that is similar to bone marrow transplantation. Doctors remove healthy immature cells (stem cells) from a patient's blood and store them before the patient receives high-dose chemotherapy and possibly radiation therapy to destroy the leukaemia cells. The stem cells are then returned to the patient, where they can produce new blood cells to replace cells destroyed by the treatment. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Pfeiffer's blood agar | Solid agar with a few drops of human blood smeared on the surface. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Romanowsky's blood stain | <technique> Prototype of the eosin-methylene blue stain's for blood smears, using aqueous solutions made of a mixture of methylene blue (saturated) and eosin. Romanowsky-type stain's depend for their action on compounds formed by interaction of methylene blue and eosin; most are of no value if water is present in the alcohol because neutral dyes become precipitated. (05 Mar 2000) |
| white blood cell | <haematology> White corpuscles in the blood. They are spherical, colourless and nucleated masses involved with host defenses. Normal white blood cell counts are variable with age and sex. Normal adult range is 4, 500 to 11,000 cells per cubic millimetre of blood. Slightly higher counts are seen in children. Elevated counts can be seen in cases of inflammation and infection. See: leucocytes, basophils, coelomocytes, eosinophils, haemocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes. Acronym: WBC (13 Nov 1997) |
| white blood cell cast | A urinary cast composed of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, characteristic of tubulointerstitial disease, especially pyelonephritis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| white blood cell count | <haematology> A laboratory test which measures the number of white blood cells per cubic millimetre of blood. Normal white blood cell counts are variable with age and sex. Normal adult range is 4, 500 to 11,000 cells per cubic millimetre of blood. Slightly higher counts are seen in children. Elevated counts can be seen in cases of inflammation and infection. (13 Nov 1997) |
| white blood cell differential | <haematology> The white blood cell differential is a percentage of each type of white blood cell based on a count of 100 white cells. A change in the white blood cell type (to neutrophils or bands) can indicate a bacterial infection. Neutrophils, bands, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils and eosinophils are all included. (13 Nov 1997) |
| white blood cells | White blood cells (WBCs) are cells which circulate in the blood and lymphatic system and harbor in the lymph glands and spleen. They are part of the immune system responsible for both directly (t cells and macrophages) and indirectly (B-cells producing antibodies) attacking foreign invaders of the body. (12 Dec 1998) |
| whole blood | <haematology> Blood that has not been separated into its various components. (13 Nov 1997) |
| whole blood coagulation time | Measurement of the time required by whole blood to produce a visible clot. Factors that could influence the test are all but III, vii, and xiii. Activation may be by contact with the glass tube or exposure to diatomaceous earth. Delay of onset of coagulation may be achieved by use of nonwettable plastic or silicone-coated glass tubes. It is used for monitoring heparin therapy and as a bedside screening test for deficiencies in the intrinsic coagulation pathway. "activated coagulation time" is sometimes referred to as act. (12 Dec 1998) |