Bloody Minded Episode 49 - In The Lab: Easy as 1-2-3 | Performing a FBC
Jun 17, 2025
Mitchell Rawlings, a senior morphologist and hematology expert at Royal North Shore Hospital, dives into the fascinating world of blood counts. He demystifies the process of counting cells and explains automated analysers' magic. Listeners will learn about the journey of a full blood count from vein to screen, the significance of acronyms, and the importance of quality control in the lab. Mitch also sheds light on common errors in blood sampling and emphasizes that the lab isn't out to get you! It's an insightful exploration for anyone curious about hematology.
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Mitch's Career Journey
- Mitch Rawlings studied applied medical science and worked in multiple labs including London before returning to Australia.
- He chose morphology over transfusion but remains passionate about the latter, highlighting diverse career paths in hematology.
Full Blood Count Parameters
- A full blood count includes multiple parameters beyond just white cells, hemoglobin, and platelets.
- Parameters like MCV, MCH, MCHC, and RDW provide detailed insight into red cell volume, hemoglobin content, and size variability.
Corrected vs Uncorrected White Cell Counts
- The uncorrected white cell count measures raw cells including debris, while the corrected count filters junk like nucleated reds.
- Large discrepancies between corrected and uncorrected counts suggest interference, requiring manual review.