Mathematics in the field of medical laboratory is vital in several applications. These include hematology calculations, serial and tube dilation estimations, and chemical equation calculations during the formation of compounds, a generic term for medicine. As a medical laboratory technician, it is crucial to have the relevant mathematical skills in order to accomplish one’s duties successfully.
Hematology is defined as the study of blood and its associated processes including the forming organs and common diseases (Bakrim et al., 2018). The in-depth analysis of blood samples involves mathematical calculations in order to come to full comprehension of the health condition. These hematology calculations are relevant for medical laboratory practitioners’ daily activities as blood samples are often encountered on a regular basis. The Red Blood Cells indices are parameters that assist in checking the quality of blood and differentiating anaemia. In particular, there are three indices including the mean cell (or corpuscular) volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), and mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). (Klee, 2014)
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Mean Cell Volume is the proportional of the Red Blood Cells in the sample. The figure is averaged in the case where a mixture of cell populations is present. It is quantified in units of femtolitres, which is equivalent to 10 -15 liters. The average measurement for an adult is 70 -100 fL (Henny et al., 1990). The measurement above is calculated using the formula below:
MCV = Hematocrit (%) * 10/(RBC) (* 10 12 /L).
Mean Cell Volume is useful to a practitioner medical laboratory technician when differentiating anemia as either microcytic anemia when below normal, normocytic anemia when within normal range or macrocytic anemia when above normal range.
The mean cell hemoglobin on the other hand is a measure of the weight proportion of hemoglobin present in the red blood cells from the sample. In the case where there is a mixture of cell populations, the average of the analyzed cells is used. Its unit of measurement is the picograms, which is equivalent to 10-12 grams. The average level for adults is between 26 pg and 32 pg. The formula is indicated below:
MCH = Hb(g/dL) (%) * 10/(RBC)(* 10 12 /L).
High mean corpuscular hemoglobin is a result of a liver diseases, overactive thyroid gland and high alcohol consumption. Low mean cell hemoglobin is caused by variants of anemia such as microcytic that prevent red blood cells from absorbing sufficient hemoglobin.
The mean cell hemoglobin concentration is the average saturation of hemoglobin present in the red blood cell in the sample. The average is evaluated for cases where a mixture of cell populations is involved. Its unit of measurement is g/dL and the normal range for adults is usually 32 -36 g/dL. It is evaluated using the formula below:
MCHC = Hb(g/dL) X 100 / Hematocrit (%)
Anemia due to low iron diet is associated with low mean cell hemoglobin concentration. Low concentration could also indicate thalassemia, a hereditary condition which causes fewer red blood cells and less hemoglobin in the circulatory system. A high mean cell hemoglobin concentration is possibly caused by autoimmune hemolytic anemia, a disorder where the body produces antibodies against the red blood cells. It may also be as a result of hereditary spherocytosis, which affects the red blood cell membranes by weakening it and rendering it more susceptible to infections.
Mathematical application in the medical laboratory field is broad especially when it comes to handling and analysis of samples. The accuracy of a laboratory report is highly dependent on the technicians grasp and comprehension of the calculations. Blood tissue analysis is specifically carried out using pre-determined mathematical formulas.
References
Bakrim, S., Motiaa, Y., Benajiba, M., Ouarour, A., & Masrar, A. (2018). Establishment of the hematology reference intervals in a healthy population of adults in the Northwest of Morocco (Tangier-Tetouan region). The Pan African Medical Journal, 29, 169.
Klee GG. (2004). Clinical interpretation of reference intervals and reference limits: a plea for assay harmonization. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 42 (7):752–757.
El-Hazmi M, Warsy A. (2001). Normal reference values for hematological parameters, red cell indices, HB A2 and HB F from early childhood through adolescence in Saudis. Ann Saudi Med., 21 (3-4):165–169.
Henny J, Houot O, Steinmetz J, et al. (1990). Collection of the information, the quality control, the description of the studied population. In: Siest G, Henny J, Schiele F, editors. References in clinical biology, 43–56.
