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What Is Sickle Cell Disease? The term  sickle cell disease  (SCD) describes a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. People with SCD have abnormal hemoglobin, called  hemoglobin S or  sickle hemoglobin, in their red blood cells. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. “Inherited” means that the disease is passed by genes from parents to their children. SCD is not contagious. A person cannot catch it, like a cold or infection, from someone else. People who have SCD inherit two abnormal hemoglobin genes, one from each parent. In all forms of SCD, at least one of the two abnormal genes causes a person’s body to make hemoglobin S. When a person has two hemoglobin S genes, Hemoglobin SS, the disease is called  sickle cell anemia . This is the most common and often most severe kind of SCD. Hemoglobin SC disease and hemoglobin Sβ thalassemia (thal-uh-SEE-me-uh) are two other common forms of SCD. Some Forms of Sickle Cell Dise

Full Blood Count Obtaining a blood specimen: An accurate FBC (full blood count) and correct interpretation of a blood film require that an appropriate sample from the patient is collected into EDTA anticoagulated blood and mixed well.  Ideally the concentration  of K 2 EDTA should be 1.5 - 2.2 mg ml -1 .  Blood should be filled to the line to achieve optimum conditions.  Samples should be delivered to the lab without delay as EDTA artefact can affect the results. Capillary samples in neonates ideally should be collected from the heel.  The first drop of blood should be wiped away to avoid diluting with cleansing materials and cellular debris which can encourage the sample to clot.  The lancet used for skin puncture should be >1.5mm in depth, but not exceed 2.4mm.  Special neonatal tubes should be used as the amount of EDTA is reduced to achieve the optimal concentration for an accurate FBC. For tube information, see the  blood sciences tube guide  or t

Bone marrow Bone marrow A simplified illustration of cells in bone marrow Details System Immune system [1] ( Lymphatic system ) Bone marrow  is the flexible  tissue  in the interior of  bones . In  humans ,  red blood cells  are produced by cores of bone marrow in the  heads of long bones  in a process known as  hematopoiesis . [2]  On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in an adult having 65 kilograms of mass (143 lbs), bone marrow typically accounts for approximately 2.6 kilograms (5.7 lb). The hematopoietic component of bone marrow produces approximately 500 billion blood cells per day, which use the bone marrow  vasculature  as a conduit to the body's systemic circulation. [3]  Bone marrow is also a key component of the  lymphatic system , producing the  lymphocytes  that support the body's  immune system . [4] Bone marrow transplants  can be conducted to treat severe diseases of the bone marrow, including certain for