Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of lymphoma, cancer of the lymph system. The two main types of Hodgkin lymphoma are classic and nodular lymphocyte-predominant. It is serious but can usually be cured if found and treated early. Learn more about risk factors, symptoms and treatment options.
Lymphatic, Circulatory and Nervous Systems
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About
Diagram showing stage 1 Hodgkin's lymphoma
Diagram showing stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma
Diagram showing stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma
Diagram showing stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma
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Diagram showing stages of Hodgkin's lymphoma
Interactive by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
Diagram showing stage 1 Hodgkin's lymphoma
Diagram showing stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma
Diagram showing stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma
Diagram showing stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma
1
2
3
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Diagram showing stages of Hodgkin's lymphoma
Interactive by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
Hodgkin Lymphoma
What is Hodgkin lymphoma?
Hodgkin lymphoma, also called Hodgkin disease, is a type of cancer that develops in the lymph system. Your lymph system is part of your immune system. It helps protect your body from infection and disease.
The lymph system is made up of tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells. It includes your:
Bone marrow
Lymph nodes
Lymphatic vessels
Spleen
Thymus
Tonsils
Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the main types of lymphoma. The other is non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Each type starts in different types of white blood cells.
What causes Hodgkin lymphoma?
The cause of Hodgkin lymphoma is unknown. But there are certain people who are at higher risk of developing it.
Who is more likely to develop Hodgkin lymphoma?
Certain factors can make you more likely to develop Hodgkin lymphoma:
Age. Hodgkin lymphoma is most common in early adulthood (age 20-39 years) and in late adulthood (age 65 years and older).
Being male. The risk of adult Hodgkin lymphoma is slightly higher in males than in females.
Past Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Having an infection with EBV as a young child or teenager increases your risk of Hodgkin lymphoma.
A family history of Hodgkin lymphoma. Having a parent or sibling with Hodgkin lymphoma increases your risk of developing it.
What are the symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma?
The signs and symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma may include:
Painless, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin
Fever for no known reason
Drenching night sweats (very heavy sweating during sleep)
Weight loss for no known reason in the past 6 months
Itchy skin, especially after bathing or drinking alcohol
Fatigue
How is Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed?
To find out if you have Hodgkin lymphoma, your provider:
Will ask about your symptoms and medical history. This will include checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual.
May order some lab tests, such as:
Complete blood count
Blood chemistry studies
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test
Blood tests to rule out other medical conditions
May do imaging tests such as a CT and PET (positron emission tomography) scans
May do a lymph node biopsy
What are the treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma?
Treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma include:
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells with less harm to normal cells
Cancer immunotherapy
Hodgkin lymphoma can usually be cured if it is found and treated early.
Source: NIH: National Cancer Institute
Additional Materials (14)
Lymphoma Animation
Video by Blausen Medical Corporate/YouTube
What is Hodgkin's lymphoma?
Video by XpertDox/YouTube
Hodgkin's Disease or Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment
Video by Best Doctors/YouTube
Hodgkin Lymphoma with Dr. Sonali M. Smith | Everything You Need to Know
Lymphoma Treatment While Pregnant - Missy's Story - The Nebraska Medical Center
Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center/YouTube
2:22
Hodgkin’s Vs Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Medicosis Perfectionalis/YouTube
1:42
Hodgkin's Lymphoma Symptoms, Medical Oncologist Explains
Best Doctors/YouTube
4:54
Active Monitoring (watch and wait) for low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Lymphoma Action/YouTube
Lymphatic, Circulatory and Nervous Systems
TheVisualMD
Overview
Lymph nodes in the neck
Image by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
Lymph nodes in the neck
Diagram showing the position of the lymph nodes in the neck.
Image by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
General Information About Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma
KEY POINTS
Adult Hodgkin lymphoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lymph system.
The two main types of Hodgkin lymphoma are: classic and nodular lymphocyte-predominant.
Age, being male, past Epstein-Barr infection, and a family history of Hodgkin lymphoma can increase the risk of adult Hodgkin lymphoma.
Signs of adult Hodgkin lymphoma include swollen lymph nodes, fever, drenching night sweats, and weight loss.
Tests that examine the lymph system and other parts of the body are used to help diagnose and stage adult Hodgkin lymphoma.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
Adult Hodgkin lymphoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lymph system.
Adult Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops in the lymph system. The lymph system is part of the immune system. It helps protect the body from infection and disease.
The lymph system is made up of the following:
Lymph: Colorless, watery fluid that travels through the lymph vessels and carries T and B lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell.
Lymph vessels: A network of thin tubes that collect lymph from different parts of the body and return it to the bloodstream.
Lymph nodes: Small, bean-shaped structures that filter lymph and store white blood cells that help fight infection and disease. Lymph nodes are found along a network of lymph vessels throughout the body. Groups of lymph nodes are found in the mediastinum (the area between the lungs), neck, underarm, abdomen, pelvis, and groin. Hodgkin lymphoma most commonly forms in the lymph nodes above the diaphragm and often in the lymph nodes in the mediastinum.
Spleen: An organ that makes lymphocytes, stores red blood cells and lymphocytes, filters the blood, and destroys old blood cells. The spleen is on the left side of the abdomen near the stomach.
Thymus: An organ in which T lymphocytes mature and multiply. The thymus is in the chest behind the breastbone.
Bone marrow: The soft, spongy tissue in the center of certain bones, such as the hip bone and breastbone. White blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets are made in the bone marrow.
Tonsils: Two small masses of lymph tissue at the back of the throat. There is one tonsil on each side of the throat. Adult Hodgkin lymphoma rarely forms in the tonsils.
Anatomy of the lymph system, showing the lymph vessels and lymph organs including lymph nodes, tonsils, thymus, spleen, and bone marrow. Lymph (clear fluid) and lymphocytes travel through the lymph vessels and into the lymph nodes where the lymphocytes destroy harmful substances. The lymph enters the blood through a large vein near the heart.
Lymph tissue is also found in other parts of the body such as the lining of the digestive tract, bronchus, and skin.
There are two general types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This summary is about the treatment of adult Hodgkin lymphoma, including during pregnancy.
For information about Hodgkin lymphoma in children, adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or lymphoma in people who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), see the following summaries:
Hodgkin's lymphoma: What you need to know - Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
4:34
Hodgkin Lymphoma | Katie's Story
Lymphoma Cancer Treatment NY - Weill Cornell/YouTube
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Hodgkin lymphoma
The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP)
Types
Lymph node
Image by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
Lymph node
Diagram of a lymph node.
Image by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
The Two Main Types of Hodgkin Lymphoma Are Classic and Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant
Most Hodgkin lymphomas are the classic type. When a sample of lymph node tissue is looked at under a microscope, Hodgkin lymphoma cancer cells, called Reed-Sternberg cells, may be seen. The classic type is broken down into the following four subtypes:
Nodular sclerosing Hodgkin lymphoma.
Mixed cellularity Hodgkin lymphoma.
Lymphocyte depletion Hodgkin lymphoma.
Lymphocyte-rich classic Hodgkin lymphoma.
Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma is rare and tends to grow more slowly than classic Hodgkin lymphoma. Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma often occurs as a swollen lymph node in the neck, chest, armpits, or groin. Most people do not have any other signs or symptoms of cancer at diagnosis. Treatment is often different from classic Hodgkin lymphoma.
Reed-Sternberg cell; photograph shows normal lymphocytes compared with a Reed-Sternberg cell.
Reed-Sternberg cell. Reed-Sternberg cells are large, abnormal lymphocytes that may contain more than one nucleus. These cells are found in Hodgkin lymphoma.
Image by National Cancer Institute / National Cancer Institute (artist)
Hodgkin lymphoma (1) mixed cellulary type
Image by /Wikimedia
Hodgkin's lymphoma
PET/CT scan of a hodgkin lymphoma, histologically validated.
National Cancer Institute / National Cancer Institute (artist)
Hodgkin lymphoma (1) mixed cellulary type
/Wikimedia
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Hg6996
Risk Factors
Epstein-Barr virus breaks out of a B cell
Image by Analytical Imaging Facility at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Epstein-Barr virus breaks out of a B cell
Epstein-Barr virus breaks out of a B cell
Image by Analytical Imaging Facility at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Risk Factors of Hodgkin Lymphoma
Being in early or late adulthood, being male, past Epstein-Barr infection, and a family history of Hodgkin lymphoma can increase the risk of adult Hodgkin lymphoma.
Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer. Talk with your doctor if you think you may be at risk. Risk factors for adult Hodgkin lymphoma include the following:
Age. Hodgkin lymphoma is most common in early adulthood (age 20–39 years) and in late adulthood (age 65 years and older).
Being male. The risk of adult Hodgkin lymphoma is slightly higher in males than in females.
Past Epstein-Barr virus infection. Having an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus in the teenage years or early childhood increases the risk of Hodgkin lymphoma.
A family history of Hodgkin lymphoma. Having a parent, brother, or sister with Hodgkin lymphoma increases the risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma.
Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH)
Additional Materials (4)
Diseases associated with the Epstein-Barr Virus
Video by Oxford Academic (Oxford University Press)/YouTube
Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Cancer
Video by macrophage/YouTube
Targeting Epstein-Barr Virus–Associated Lymphomas
Video by ASCOcancer/YouTube
Questions Patients With Hodgkin's Disease Should Ask Their Doctors
Video by Best Doctors/YouTube
7:53
Diseases associated with the Epstein-Barr Virus
Oxford Academic (Oxford University Press)/YouTube
2:43
Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Cancer
macrophage/YouTube
2:36
Targeting Epstein-Barr Virus–Associated Lymphomas
ASCOcancer/YouTube
2:58
Questions Patients With Hodgkin's Disease Should Ask Their Doctors
Best Doctors/YouTube
Symptoms
A still from a 3D medical animation showing enlarged Lymph nodes.
Image by Scientific Animations, Inc.
A still from a 3D medical animation showing enlarged Lymph nodes.
Lymph nodes may become enlarged due to an infection, injury and cancer.
Image by Scientific Animations, Inc.
Signs and Symptoms of Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma
Signs and symptoms of adult Hodgkin lymphoma include swollen lymph nodes, fever, drenching night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue.
These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by adult Hodgkin lymphoma or by other conditions. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms that do not go away:
Painless, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin.
Fever for no known reason.
Drenching night sweats.
Weight loss for no known reason in the past 6 months.
Itchy skin, especially after bathing or drinking alcohol.
Feeling very tired.
Fever for no known reason, weight loss for no known reason, and drenching night sweats are called B symptoms. B symptoms are an important part of staging Hodgkin lymphoma and understanding the patient's chance of recovery.
Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH)
Additional Materials (6)
Hodgkin's Lymphoma Symptoms, Medical Oncologist Explains
CT image of a 46-year-old patient with Hodgkin's lymphoma, image at neck height. On the left side of the patient's neck enlarged lymph nodes are visible (marked in red).
Interactive by JHeuser/Wikimedia
Tests to Help Diagnose and Stage Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma
Tests that examine the lymph system and other parts of the body are used to help diagnose and stage adult Hodgkin lymphoma.
The results of the tests and procedures below also help make decisions about treatment.
These tests may include:
Physical exam and health history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient's health, including fever, drenching night sweats, and weight loss, past illnesses, and treatments will also be taken.
Complete blood count (CBC): A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the following:
The number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
The amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the red blood cells.
The portion of the sample made up of red blood cells.
Complete blood count (CBC). Blood is collected by inserting a needle into a vein and allowing the blood to flow into a tube. The blood sample is sent to the laboratory and the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are counted. The CBC is used to test for, diagnose, and monitor many different conditions.
Blood chemistry studies: A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual (higher or lower than normal) amount of a substance can be a sign of disease.
LDH test: A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amount of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH). An increased amount of LDH in the blood may be a sign of tissue damage, lymphoma, or other diseases.
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C test: A procedure in which a sample of blood is checked to measure the amounts of hepatitis B virus-specific antigens and/or antibodies and the amounts of hepatitis C virus-specific antibodies. These antigens or antibodies are called markers. Different markers or combinations of markers are used to determine whether a patient has a hepatitis B or C infection, has had a prior infection or vaccination, or is susceptible to infection. Knowing whether a patient has hepatitis B or C may help plan treatment.
HIV test: A test to measure the level of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies in a sample of blood. Antibodies are made by the body when it is invaded by a foreign substance. A high level of HIV antibodies may mean the body has been infected with HIV. Knowing whether a patient has HIV may help plan treatment.
Sedimentation rate: A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the rate at which the red blood cells settle to the bottom of the test tube. The sedimentation rate is a measure of how much inflammation is in the body. A higher than normal sedimentation rate may be a sign of lymphoma or another condition. Also called erythrocyte sedimentation rate, sed rate, or ESR.
PET-CT scan: A procedure that combines the pictures from a positron emission tomography (PET) scan and a computed tomography (CT) scan. The PET and CT scans are done at the same time on the same machine. The pictures from both scans are combined to make a more detailed picture than either test would make by itself. A PET-CT scan may be used to help diagnose disease, such as cancer, determine stage, plan treatment, or find out how well treatment is working.
CT scan (CAT scan): A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, such as the neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and lymph nodes, taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography. If a PET-CT scan is not available, a CT scan alone may be done.
PET scan (positron emission tomography scan): A PET scan is a procedure to find malignant tumor cells in the body. A small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is injected into a vein. The PET scanner rotates around the body and makes a picture of where glucose is being used in the body. Malignant tumor cells show up brighter in the picture because they are more active and take up more glucose than normal cells do.
Lymph node biopsy: The removal of all or part of a lymph node. A pathologist views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells called Reed-Sternberg cells. Reed-Sternberg cells are common in classic Hodgkin lymphoma.Reed-Sternberg cell. Reed-Sternberg cells are large, abnormal lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) that may contain more than one nucleus. These cells are found in people with Hodgkin lymphoma. Reed-Sternberg cells are also called Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells.
One of the following types of biopsies may be done:
Excisional biopsy: The removal of an entire lymph node.
Incisional biopsy: The removal of part of a lymph node.
Core biopsy: The removal of tissue from a lymph node using a wide needle.
Other areas of the body, such as the liver, lung, bone, bone marrow, and brain, may also have a sample of tissue removed and checked by a pathologist for signs of cancer.
The following test may be done on tissue that was removed:
Immunophenotyping: A laboratory test that uses antibodies to identify cancer cells based on the types of antigens or markers on the surface of the cells. This test is used to help diagnose specific types of lymphoma.
For pregnant women with Hodgkin lymphoma, imaging tests that protect the unborn baby from the harms of radiation are used. These include:
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI). In women who are pregnant, contrast dye is not used during the procedure.
Ultrasound exam: A procedure in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called a sonogram.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
The prognosis and treatment options depend on the following:
The patient's signs and symptoms, including whether or not they have B symptoms (fever for no known reason, weight loss for no known reason, or drenching night sweats).
The stage of the cancer (the size of the cancer tumors and whether the cancer has spread to the abdomen or more than one group of lymph nodes).
The type of Hodgkin lymphoma.
Blood test results.
The patient's age, sex, and general health.
Whether the cancer is newly diagnosed, continues to grow during treatment, or has come back after treatment.
For Hodgkin lymphoma during pregnancy, treatment options also depend on:
The wishes of the patient.
The age of the unborn baby.
Adult Hodgkin lymphoma can usually be cured if found and treated early.
Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH)
Additional Materials (3)
Hodgkin Lymphoma with Dr. Sonali M. Smith | Everything You Need to Know
Hodgkin's Disease or Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment
Best Doctors/YouTube
Complete Blood Count
Complete Blood Count
Also called: CBC, Full Blood Count, Blood Cell Count, Hemotology Panel
A complete blood count (CBC) is often part of a routine exam. It is used to measure different parts and features of your blood. A CBC can help detect a variety of disorders including infections, anemia, diseases of the immune system, and blood cancers.
Complete Blood Count
Also called: CBC, Full Blood Count, Blood Cell Count, Hemotology Panel
A complete blood count (CBC) is often part of a routine exam. It is used to measure different parts and features of your blood. A CBC can help detect a variety of disorders including infections, anemia, diseases of the immune system, and blood cancers.
A complete blood count, or CBC, is a blood test that measures many different parts and features of your blood, including:
Red blood cells, which carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.
White blood cells, which fight infections and other diseases. There are five major types of white blood cells. A CBC test measures the total number of white cells in your blood. A different test called a CBC with differential measures the number of each type of these white blood cells.
Platelets, which stop bleeding by helping your blood to clot.
Hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.
Hematocrit, a measurement of how much of your blood is made up of red blood cells.
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), a measure of the average size of your red blood cells.
Other names for a complete blood count: CBC, full blood count, blood cell count
A complete blood count is a common blood test that is often part of a routine checkup. Complete blood counts can help detect a variety of disorders including infections, anemia, diseases of the immune system, and blood cancers.
Your health care provider may have ordered a complete blood count as part of your checkup or to monitor your overall health. The test may also be used to:
Help diagnose blood diseases, infection, immune system disorders, or other medical conditions
Check for changes in an existing blood disorder
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
Usually there is no special preparation necessary for a complete blood count. But if your provider ordered other tests on your blood sample, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may experience slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle went in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
A CBC counts the cells in your blood. There are many reasons your levels may not be in the normal range. For example:
Abnormal levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, or hematocrit may be a sign of anemia, heart disease, or too little iron in your body.
Low white cell count may be a sign of an autoimmune disorder, bone marrow disorder, or cancer.
High white cell count may be a sign of an infection or a reaction to medicine.
If any of your levels are abnormal, it doesn't always mean you have a medical condition that needs treatment. Diet, activity level, medicines, a menstrual period, not drinking enough water, and other factors can affect the results. Talk with your provider to learn what your results mean.
A complete blood count is only one tool your health care provider uses to learn about your health. Your provider will consider your medical history, symptoms, and other factors to make a diagnosis. You may also need additional tests.
Complete Blood Count (CBC): MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Blood Tests - Blood Tests | NHLBI, NIH. Mar 24, 2022 [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Additional Materials (25)
Reticulocyte Count, Hemorrhage/Chronic Blood Loss
Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells (RBCs) released into the bloodstream from the bone marrow in which they developed. Normally, only a tiny percentage red blood cells circulating in the bloodstream are reticulocytes. The reticulocyte count rises, however, when bone marrow is called upon to produce more RBCs, in conditions such as heavy bleeding or certain types of anemia.
Image by TheVisualMD
Blood sample
During the blood collection process, medical personnel gather additional blood samples to test for an array of blood disorders and communicable diseases. Every unit of blood is rigorously tested before approved for transfusion into a patient.
Image by United States Marine Corps
Phlebotomy
Venipuncture (blood draw / collection) in the left arm of a male.
Image by MatthewLammers
Blood and Related Conditions
Blood and Related Conditions : Anemia results when there are too few red blood cells circulating in the bloodstream to deliver adequate oxygen to body tissues. There are different types and causes of anemia, including malnutrition, chronic bleeding, and diseases that result in red blood cells either being destroyed too quickly or produced too slowly.
Image by TheVisualMD
Components of Blood
Components of Blood : Our blood is composed of many different components, the largest categories being red and white blood cells (blood-clotting platelets are another key component) and the liquid portion known as blood plasma. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) includes several of the most basic, yet important, measurements of these components.
Image by TheVisualMD
Blood fractionation
Vial of separated blood. The middle layer is a type of sterile goo which separates the blood from the rest of what's drawn.
Image by Wheeler Cowperthwaite from Reno, USA
Whole Blood
A Red Cross whole blood donation before any separation
Image by Whoisjohngalt
White Blood Cells Rotation
This rotational interactive features five white blood cells. At the top left is a neutrophil (purple nucleus); center is a Monocyte-macrophage (orange nucleus); top right is a Lymphocyte (red nucleus); bottom left a Basophil (green nucleus); and bottom right an Eosinophil (yellow nucleus). These molecules are all part of a white blood cell count test. A white blood cell count is an important measure of this key component of the immune system; when the body is under attack, more WBCs are produced. White blood cells (also called leukocytes or WBCs) are in the front lines in the fight against harmful viruses, bacteria and even fungus. A white blood cell count is an important measure of this key component of the immune system; when the body is under attack, more WBCs are produced. Other factors, however, may also affect WBC counts, including allergies, chemotherapy, and other drugs, as well as leukemia.
Image by TheVisualMD
Medical Checkups
Image by TheVisualMD
Medical Checkups
Most doctors believe that people should have regular checkups as a part of preventive treatment. Regular health exams can help find problems before they begin, or in their early stages, when the chances of successful treatment are best.
Blood Pressure Reading: Photo Copyright 2005, James Gathany
Image by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Complete Blood Count, and Baselining Your Health
Video Topics : Our lifeblood consists of many components and a complete blood count (CBC) includes measurements of the fundamental elements. The largest categories are red and white blood cells (RBCs and WBCs) and cell fragments called platelets, which play roles in blood clotting. There are 20-30 trillion red blood cells in the body of an adult, each with a lifespan of about 100 days (RBCs contain an iron-containing protein called hemoglobin that enables them to carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body and then return carbon dioxide to the lungs). WBCs are in the front lines in the body's ongoing fight against harmful viruses, bacteria and even fungus; when a pathogen enters the body, WBCs mobilize in a coordinated defense response to eliminate, neutralize or mark the invader for destruction. The liquid portion of blood is called plasma and it carries nutrients, electrolytes, waste products, and hormones.
Video by TheVisualMD
Full Blood Count – what it tells your doctor about your health
Video by Pathology Tests Explained/YouTube
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Video by Medicosis Perfectionalis/YouTube
Complete Blood Count
Video by Tom Wade MD/YouTube
high white blood cell count Video
Video by itbestshop/YouTube
Complete Blood Count pt1
Video by Med Immersion/YouTube
Complete Blood Count pt2
Video by Med Immersion/YouTube
This browser does not support the video element.
Normal Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
An animation simulating a view of a healthy count of red blood cells as viewed in a slide projector or under a microscope. Initially, the screen in white with a circular black vignette along its borders. Then a still showing red blood cells slides up from the bottom left filling the screen and then comes into focus. The red blood cells resemble those taken from an scanning electron micrograph (SEM) and fill up the given space on the screen.
Video by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Anemic Blood Flow
Camera is stationary as it focuses on a capillary in a cell bed demonstrating anemic blood flow and it's lower red blood cell count.
Video by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Anemic Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
An animation simulating a view of an unhealthy count of red blood cells as viewed in a slide projector or under a microscope. Initially, the screen in white with a circular black vignette along its borders. Then a still showing red blood cells on a light red background slides up from the bottom left filling the screen and then comes into focus. The red blood cells resemble those taken from an scanning electron micrograph (SEM). There are only a few red blood cells in this slide indicative of the low amount typical of some one who is anemic.
Video by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Anemic Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
An animation simulating a close-up of an unhealthy count of red blood cells as viewed in a slide projector or under a microscope. Initially, the screen in white with a circular black vignette along its borders. Then a still showing red blood cells on a light red background slides up from the bottom left filling the screen and then comes into focus. Throughout the animation, the slide jitters a little. The red blood cells resemble those taken from an scanning electron micrograph (SEM). In this close up there are a few red blood cells along with a few white blood cells.
Video by TheVisualMD
Why Blood Tests Can Save Your Life
Video by Seeker+/YouTube
Introduction to lab values and normal ranges | Health & Medicine | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Low blood counts and the risk of infection in cancer patients | Norton Cancer Institute
Video by Norton Healthcare/YouTube
Dr. Erba Describes Proper Diagnostic Testing of CML
Video by OncLiveTV/YouTube
Reticulocyte Count, Hemorrhage/Chronic Blood Loss
TheVisualMD
Blood sample
United States Marine Corps
Phlebotomy
MatthewLammers
Blood and Related Conditions
TheVisualMD
Components of Blood
TheVisualMD
Blood fractionation
Wheeler Cowperthwaite from Reno, USA
Whole Blood
Whoisjohngalt
White Blood Cells Rotation
TheVisualMD
Medical Checkups
TheVisualMD
Medical Checkups
TheVisualMD
2:12
Complete Blood Count, and Baselining Your Health
TheVisualMD
4:18
Full Blood Count – what it tells your doctor about your health
Pathology Tests Explained/YouTube
7:04
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Medicosis Perfectionalis/YouTube
4:11
Complete Blood Count
Tom Wade MD/YouTube
8:22
high white blood cell count Video
itbestshop/YouTube
16:12
Complete Blood Count pt1
Med Immersion/YouTube
22:14
Complete Blood Count pt2
Med Immersion/YouTube
0:06
Normal Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
TheVisualMD
0:07
Anemic Blood Flow
TheVisualMD
0:14
Anemic Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
TheVisualMD
0:14
Anemic Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
TheVisualMD
8:29
Why Blood Tests Can Save Your Life
Seeker+/YouTube
10:42
Introduction to lab values and normal ranges | Health & Medicine | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
1:32
Low blood counts and the risk of infection in cancer patients | Norton Cancer Institute
Norton Healthcare/YouTube
2:39
Dr. Erba Describes Proper Diagnostic Testing of CML
OncLiveTV/YouTube
Red Blood Cells
Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
Also called: Erythrocyte Count, RBC Count, Red Blood Count, Red Blood Cell Count, Red Count
A red blood cell (RBC) count is a blood test that measures the number of red blood cells in your blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. An abnormal RBC count can be a sign of a serious health problem.
Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
Also called: Erythrocyte Count, RBC Count, Red Blood Count, Red Blood Cell Count, Red Count
A red blood cell (RBC) count is a blood test that measures the number of red blood cells in your blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. An abnormal RBC count can be a sign of a serious health problem.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
(10<sup>6</sup>)/μL
3.9
5.5
Your result is Normal.
Red blood cells (RBC) are made in the bone marrow and contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen to the tissues in the body. RBCs make up approximately 44% of the total blood volume.
Related conditions
A red blood cell (RBC) count measures the number of red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, in your blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to every cell in your body. Your cells need oxygen to grow, reproduce, and stay healthy. An RBC count that is higher or lower than normal is often the first sign of an illness. So the test may allow you to get treatment even before you have symptoms.
Other names: erythrocyte count, red count
A red blood cell (RBC) count is almost always part of a complete blood count, a group of tests that measure many different parts and features of your blood. The RBC measurement is used to help diagnose red blood cell disorders, such as anemia, a condition in which your body does not make enough healthy red blood cells.
You may get this test as part of a complete blood count, which is often included in a routine checkup. You may also need this test if you have symptoms of a low or high red blood cell count.
Symptoms of a low red blood cell count include:
Weakness
Fatigue
Pale skin
Rapid heartbeat
Symptoms of a high red blood cell count include:
Headache
Dizziness
Vision problems
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for a red blood cell (RBC) count.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. There may be slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Your results will show whether you have a normal red blood cell count or a count that is too low or too high.
A low red blood cell count can be a sign of:
Anemia
Leukemia, a type of blood cancer
Malnutrition, a condition in which your body does not get the calories, vitamins, and/or minerals needed for good health
Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow
Kidney failure
It may also be a sign of pregnancy.
A high red blood cell count can be a sign of:
Dehydration
Heart disease
Polycythemia vera, a bone marrow disease that causes too many red blood cells to be made
Scarring of the lungs, often due to cigarette smoking
Lung disease
Kidney cancer
If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.
If results showed you had a low or a high red blood cell count, you may need more tests to help make a diagnosis. These include:
Reticulocyte count, a test that counts the number of reticulocytes in the blood. Reticulocytes are red blood cells that are still developing. These are also known as immature red blood cells.
Iron tests, which measure iron levels in the blood. Iron is essential for making red blood cells.
Vitamin B test, which measures the amount of one or more B vitamins in the blood. B vitamins are important for making red blood cells.
Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
RBC count: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Red Blood Cell Count (RBC) Test - Testing.com. Sep 27, 2022 [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (19)
Red blood cells
Red blood cells
Image by John Kalekos of Massachusetts image distribution for Science and Learning
Red Blood Cell
This image shows two red blood cells. The red blood cell is also called an erythrocyte: erythro is Greek for \"red,\" cyte is Latin for \"cell.\" The disc-shaped RBCs have the critical job of transporting oxygen from the lungs to the body's cells and bringing carbon dioxide from the cells back to the lungs to be expelled.
Image by TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell in Capillary
The cardiovascular system is vast network of arteries, veins and vessels that would extend 60,000 miles if stretched end-to-end. All but a tiny fraction of this vessel network is invisible to the naked eye. The smallest capillaries (from latin "hairlike") are so narrow that red blood cells must pass through in single file. Higher than normal blood iron levels have been linked to heart disease and the reason is believed to be the oxidative stress the excess iron places on the walls of the blood vessels. It is the biological counterpart of rust. There are 20-30 trillion red blood cells (RBCs) in an adult's body. The life span of RBCs, which are produced in bone marrow, is about 100 days, which means that 2 million die (and are replaced) each second, but in that short lifetime they can make 75,000 round trips between lungs, heart and tissues in the body.
Image by TheVisualMD
Blood Smear Showing Reduced Red Blood Cell Count
Individual blood cells were first detected and described in the 17th century. Later, red blood cells (RBCs) were counted manually from a blood smear, a thin film of blood prepared on a glass slide and examined under a microscope (blood analysis is now automated, though smears are still used to detect visible abnormalities and to check or confirm the results of other tests). Anemia results when there are too few RBCs in circulation because they are being destroyed too quickly or produced too slowly. Anemia can be temporary or long term and range from mild to severe. Folate (also known as vitamin B9) is necessary for red blood cell production and the prevention of anemia, as well as the metabolism of carbohydrates. But folate also plays key roles in the synthesis and maintenance of DNA and is especially important in cell division and growth in fetal development (deficiencies of the vitamin in pregnancy is a common cause of birth defects). Pernicious anemia is a disorder in which the body's loses its ability to utilize folate and vitamin B12.
Image by TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell (RBC)
There are 20-30 trillion red blood cells (RBCs) in an adult's body. The life span of RBCs, which are produced in bone marrow, is about 100 days, which means that 2 million die (and are replaced) each second. In their short lifetimes, however, red blood cells can make 75,000 round trips between lungs, heart and tissues in the body.
Image by TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell
The RBC is disc-shaped and concave on both sides. The concave shape increases the cells' surface area, which allows them to distribute more oxygen to the body's cells. The shape also enables the cells to bunch together more compactly, helping them travel through the bloodstream more efficiently. Some RBCs are a bit thicker or thinner, wider or longer than others, but can change their shape to suit the demands of their environment. The cell membranes of the RBCs are protein meshes that give them flexibility, allowing them to navigate the twists and turns of the blood vessel network. The nearly 300 million hemoglobin molecules contained within each RBC easily move and slide past each other within the cell, adjusting their positions to conform to the RBC's shifting shape. Diameter : 7 μm
Image by TheVisualMD
Capillary Revealing Red Blood Cell
A portion of a capillary wall has been cut away to reveal the red blood cells flowing within.
Image by TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell and White Blood Cell
Medical visualization of red blood cells and leukocytes.
Image by TheVisualMD
Blood Smear Showing Normal Red Blood Cell Count
Individual blood cells were first detected and described in the 17th century. Later, red blood cells were counted manually from a blood smear, a thin film of blood prepared on a glass slide and examined under a microscope. Blood analysis is now automated, though blood smears are still used to detect visible abnormalities and to check or confirm the results of other tests. There are normally between 4.2-5.8 million red blood cells per microliter (about a drop), which means there are 20-30 trillion red blood cells circulating through the body of an adult.
Image by TheVisualMD
Tubule of Nephron Revealing Many Red Blood Cell
This image shows the cut distal convoluted tubule of nephron with surrounding capillaries cut to reveal many red blood cells and healthy amounts of Erythopoeitin, EPO, (yellow particles). Erythropoeitin, EPO, is produced by the endothelial cells of the capillaries and the fibroblasts in the interstitial tissue surrounding the distal tubules. Normally, the kidneys produce EPO in response to low oxygen levels in order to stimulate red blood cell production in the bone marrow. A normal amount of red blood cells allows for the delivery of an adequate supply of oxygen.
Image by TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell in Capillary
This image shows red blood cells traveling through capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in the body.
Image by TheVisualMD
Tubule of Nephron Revealing Few Red Blood Cell
Our kidneys are remarkable filters. Each day, they filter about 200 quarts of blood to extract about 2 quarts of wastes, which is then eliminated as urine. The kidneys' delicate filtration units are called nephrons; each kidney has about a million nephrons, and within each nephron are dense forests of tiny capillaries called glomeruli, which remove waste products from the blood while preventing the loss of other components, including proteins, electrolytes and blood cells. The glomerular filtration rate is the amount of blood that is filtered by the glomeruli per minute.
Image by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Complete Blood Count, and Baselining Your Health
Video Topics : Our lifeblood consists of many components and a complete blood count (CBC) includes measurements of the fundamental elements. The largest categories are red and white blood cells (RBCs and WBCs) and cell fragments called platelets, which play roles in blood clotting. There are 20-30 trillion red blood cells in the body of an adult, each with a lifespan of about 100 days (RBCs contain an iron-containing protein called hemoglobin that enables them to carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body and then return carbon dioxide to the lungs). WBCs are in the front lines in the body's ongoing fight against harmful viruses, bacteria and even fungus; when a pathogen enters the body, WBCs mobilize in a coordinated defense response to eliminate, neutralize or mark the invader for destruction. The liquid portion of blood is called plasma and it carries nutrients, electrolytes, waste products, and hormones.
Video by TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell (RBC) Indices (Anemia Labs)
Video by Nursing School Explained/YouTube
WellnessFX: Red Blood Cell Indices Part 1 with Bryan Walsh
Video by WellnessFX/YouTube
WellnessFX: Red Blood Cell Indices Part 2 with Bryan Walsh
Video by WellnessFX/YouTube
Red Blood Cells Nursing Considerations, Normal Range, Nursing Care, Lab Values Nursing
Video by NURSINGcom/YouTube
This browser does not support the video element.
Flowing Red Blood Cell (RBC)
Animation of red blood cells flowoing quicly through a blood vessel. The camera is positioned in the lumen of the vessel and the rbc's are flowing towards the viewer. The rbc and and lumen are rendered with muted colors to give it a softer look.
Video by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Red Blood Cell Development
This video explains red blood cell development, following a pluripotent stem cell to red blood cell.
Video by TheVisualMD
Red blood cells
John Kalekos of Massachusetts image distribution for Science and Learning
Red Blood Cell
TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell in Capillary
TheVisualMD
Blood Smear Showing Reduced Red Blood Cell Count
TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell (RBC)
TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell
TheVisualMD
Capillary Revealing Red Blood Cell
TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell and White Blood Cell
TheVisualMD
Blood Smear Showing Normal Red Blood Cell Count
TheVisualMD
Tubule of Nephron Revealing Many Red Blood Cell
TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell in Capillary
TheVisualMD
Tubule of Nephron Revealing Few Red Blood Cell
TheVisualMD
2:12
Complete Blood Count, and Baselining Your Health
TheVisualMD
7:45
Red Blood Cell (RBC) Indices (Anemia Labs)
Nursing School Explained/YouTube
33:35
WellnessFX: Red Blood Cell Indices Part 1 with Bryan Walsh
WellnessFX/YouTube
28:05
WellnessFX: Red Blood Cell Indices Part 2 with Bryan Walsh
WellnessFX/YouTube
3:01
Red Blood Cells Nursing Considerations, Normal Range, Nursing Care, Lab Values Nursing
NURSINGcom/YouTube
0:12
Flowing Red Blood Cell (RBC)
TheVisualMD
0:31
Red Blood Cell Development
TheVisualMD
White Blood Cells
White Blood Count (WBC)
Also called: WBC, WBC Blood Test, White Blood Count, White Blood Cell Count, Leukocyte Count, Leukopenia Test, Leukocytosis Test
A white blood count measures the number of white cells in your blood. White blood cells are part of the immune system. A count that is too high or too low can indicate an infection, immune system disorder, or another health problem.
White Blood Count (WBC)
Also called: WBC, WBC Blood Test, White Blood Count, White Blood Cell Count, Leukocyte Count, Leukopenia Test, Leukocytosis Test
A white blood count measures the number of white cells in your blood. White blood cells are part of the immune system. A count that is too high or too low can indicate an infection, immune system disorder, or another health problem.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
{WBC}/uL
4500
11000
Your result is Normal.
Normally, people produce about 100 billion white blood cells (WBCs) a day. The total white blood cell count normally ranges between 4,500 and 11,000 WBCs per microliter.
Related conditions
A white blood count measures the number of white cells in your blood. White blood cells are part of the immune system. They help your body fight off infections and other diseases.
When you get sick, your body makes more white blood cells to fight the bacteria, viruses, or other foreign substances causing your illness. This increases your white blood count.
Other diseases can cause your body to make fewer white blood cells than you need. This lowers your white blood count. Diseases that can lower your white blood count include some types of cancer and HIV/AIDS, a viral disease that attacks white blood cells. Certain medicines, including chemotherapy, may also lower the number of your white blood cells.
There are five major types of white blood cells:
Neutrophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Eosinophils
Basophils
A white blood count measures the total number of these cells in your blood. Another test, called a blood differential, measures the amount of each type of white blood cell.
Other names: WBC count, white cell count, white blood cell count
A white blood count is most often used to help diagnose disorders related to having a high white blood cell count or low white blood cell count.
Disorders related to having a high white blood count include:
Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, conditions that cause the immune system to attack healthy tissues
Bacterial or viral infections
Cancers such as leukemia and Hodgkin disease
Allergic reactions
Disorders related to having a low white blood count include:
Diseases of the immune system, such as HIV/AIDS
Lymphoma, a cancer of the bone marrow
Diseases of the liver or spleen
A white blood count can show if the number of your white blood cells is too high or too low, but it can't confirm a diagnosis. So it is usually done along with other tests, such as a complete blood count, blood differential, blood smear, and/or bone marrow test.
You may need this test if you have signs of an infection, inflammation, or autoimmune disease. Symptoms of infection include:
Fever
Chills
Body aches
Headache
Symptoms of inflammation and autoimmune diseases will be different, depending on the area of inflammation and type of disease.
You may also need this test if you have a disease that weakens your immune system or are taking medicine that lowers your immune response. If the test shows your white blood count is getting too low, your provider may be able to adjust your treatment.
Your newborn or older child may also be tested as part of a routine screening, or if they have symptoms of a white blood cell disorder.
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out.
To test children, a health care provider will take a sample from the heel (newborns and young babies) or the fingertip (older babies and children). The provider will clean the heel or fingertip with alcohol and poke the site with a small needle. The provider will collect a few drops of blood and put a bandage on the site.
You don't need any special preparations for a white blood count.
After a blood test, you may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
There is very little risk to your baby or child with a needle stick test. Your child may feel a little pinch when the site is poked, and a small bruise may form at the site. This should go away quickly.
A high white blood count may mean you have one of the following conditions:
A bacterial or viral infection
An inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis
An allergy
Leukemia or Hodgkin disease
Tissue damage from a burn injury or surgery
A low white blood count may mean you have one of the following conditions:
Bone marrow damage. This may be caused by infection, disease, or treatments such as chemotherapy.
Cancers that affect the bone marrow
An autoimmune disorder, such as lupus (or SLE)
HIV/AIDS
If you are already being treated for a white blood cell disorder, your results may show if your treatment is working or whether your condition has improved.
If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.
White blood count results are often compared with results of other blood tests, including a blood differential. A blood differential test shows the amount of each type of white blood cell, such as neutrophils or lymphocytes. Neutrophils mostly target bacterial infections. Lymphocytes mostly target viral infections.
A higher than normal amount of neutrophils is known as neutrophilia.
A lower than normal amount is known as neutropenia.
A higher than normal amount of lymphocytes is known as lymphocytosis.
A lower normal amount is known as lymphopenia.
White Blood Count (WBC): MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
WBC count: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
White Blood Cell Count (WBC Blood Test) - Testing.com. Sep 28, 2022 [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (37)
White Blood Cell Count: Bone Marrow
Disease or damage to the bone marrow, caused by infection, cancer, radiation treatment, or chemotherapy can lower white blood cell count by impairing the marrow's ability to produce new white blood cells.
Image by TheVisualMD
White Blood Cells, Bone Marrow
Bone marrow is constantly producing blood cells, including white blood cells and red blood cells as well platelets, which are cell fragments important for blood clotting. Disease and disorders of the bone marrow can, in turn, affect the production of blood cells. Both cancer and cancer treatment (chemotherapy and radiation) can also have an impact on the bone marrow's ability to produce blood cells.
Image by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Complete Blood Count, and Baselining Your Health
Video Topics : Our lifeblood consists of many components and a complete blood count (CBC) includes measurements of the fundamental elements. The largest categories are red and white blood cells (RBCs and WBCs) and cell fragments called platelets, which play roles in blood clotting. There are 20-30 trillion red blood cells in the body of an adult, each with a lifespan of about 100 days (RBCs contain an iron-containing protein called hemoglobin that enables them to carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body and then return carbon dioxide to the lungs). WBCs are in the front lines in the body's ongoing fight against harmful viruses, bacteria and even fungus; when a pathogen enters the body, WBCs mobilize in a coordinated defense response to eliminate, neutralize or mark the invader for destruction. The liquid portion of blood is called plasma and it carries nutrients, electrolytes, waste products, and hormones.
Video by TheVisualMD
The Immune System Explained I – Bacteria Infection
Video by Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell/YouTube
Immune Response to Bacteria
Video by NIAID/YouTube
Immunology - Adaptive Immune System
Video by Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
Immune System - Natural Killer Cell
Video by Kyle Thornthwaite/YouTube
Your Immune System: Natural Born Killer - Crash Course Biology #32
Video by CrashCourse/YouTube
White Blood Cell and Red Blood Cell
Medical visualization of blood cells. Depicted are numerous red blood cells and a single white blood cell.
Image by TheVisualMD
White Blood Cell and Red Blood Cell
Medical visualization of blood cells. Depicted are numerous red blood cells and a single white blood cell.
Image by TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell and White Blood Cell
Visualization of red blood cells and a white blood cell
Image by TheVisualMD
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Blood cells (from left to right: erythrocyte, thrombocyte, leukocyte)
A single drop of blood contains millions of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. One of each type is shown here, isolated from a scanning electron micrograph.
Image by Electron Microscopy Facility at The National Cancer Institute at Frederick (NCI-Frederick)
Bone structure
Anatomy of the bone. The bone is made up of compact bone, spongy bone, and bone marrow. Compact bone makes up the outer layer of the bone. Spongy bone is found mostly at the ends of bones and contains red marrow. Bone marrow is found in the center of most bones and has many blood vessels. There are two types of bone marrow: red and yellow. Red marrow contains blood stem cells that can become red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. Yellow marrow is made mostly of fat.
Image by Smart Servier website
Blood Cells
Formed Elements of Blood
Image by Blausen.com staff (2014). \"Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014\"
Phagocytosis - C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance made by the liver that is released into the bloodstream by inflammation and infection as part of the body's immune response.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance made by the liver that is released into the bloodstream by inflammation and infection as part of the body's immune response. White blood cells are also mobilized by the immune system and CRP is believed to enhance the activity of the white blood cells called macrophages. Each type of white blood cell has its own specialized immune functions; macrophages, for example, basically engulf and \"eat\" foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. Macrophages in the spleen and the liver weed out old and defective red blood cells and break them into recyclables (iron, heme, and some globin) and wastes (such as bilirubin). The bilirubin is then used by the liver to produce bile, which is stored in the gallbladder and released into the small intestine to aid digestion.
Image by TheVisualMD
White blood cells
Immune cells surrounding hair follicles in mouse skin. These hair follicles are home to a diverse array of commensal bacteria.
Image by NIAID
Neutrophil
Neutrophil function, relationship to disease, and location in the human body. Credit: NIAID
Image by NIAID
Innate immune system
Image by US Gov
Macrophage Capturing Foreign Antigen
Cell-mediated immunity is an immune response that does not involve antibodies or complement but rather involves the activation of macrophages, natural killer cells (NK), antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, and the release of various cytokines in response to an antigen. Macrophages are white blood cells that engulf and digest cellular debris and pathogens
Image by TheVisualMD
Mast Cell
Mast cells produce histamine. Histamine is known for its role in inflammation. It affects a variety of behavior patterns including the sleep-wake cycle and food intake. Antihistamines may work at odds with inflammation and depression.
Image by TheVisualMD
Leukocytes
Image by OpenStax College
Innate immune system
Illustration of the Innate Immune System responding to injury.
Image by OpenStax College
Eosinophilia
Drawing of an eosinophil white blood cell
Image by Iceclanl
Two neutrophils among many red blood cells. Neutrophils are one type of cell affected by chronic granulomatous disease.
Image by Uploaded by Mgiganteus
Eosinophils
Eosinophil function, relationship to disease, and location in the human body.
Image by NIAID
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Blood Cells
This is a scanning electron microscope image from normal circulating human blood. One can see red blood cells, several white blood cells including lymphocytes, amonocyte, a neutrophil, and many small disc-shaped platelets. Red cells are nonnucleated and contain hemoglobin, an important protein that contains iron and allows the cell to carry oxygen to other parts of the body. They also carry carbon dioxide away from peripheral tissue to the lungs where it can be exhaled. The infection-fighting white blood cells are classified in two main groups: granular and agranular. All blood cells are formed in the bone marrow. There are two types of agranulocytes: lymphocytes, which fight disease by producing antibodies and thus destroying foreign material, and monocytes. Platelets are tiny cells formed in bone marrow and are necessary for blood clotting.
Image by Bruce Wetzel (photographer). Harry Schaefer (photographer), National Cancer Institute
Immune System and Autoimmune Diseases
Normally, an individual's immune system learns to identify and ignore all of the distinctive little structures found on that individual's own cells. Sometimes, however, it will make a mistake and identify its own body as foreign. If that happens, the immune system produces antibodies that attempt to destroy the body's own cells in the same way it would try to destroy a foreign invader.
Image by TheVisualMD
Eosinophils
Drawing of an eosinophil white blood cell
Image by BruceBlaus
Eosinophils
On the left there is a segmented polymorphonuclear neutrophil, on the right and below is one eosinophil leucocyte. For comparison the red blood cell have a diameter of 7-8 micrometers. The picture was taken with a Nikon Eclipse 600 microscope, magnification was 1000x.
Image by Davidcsaba Dr. David Csaba L.
Neutrophil action - Inflammation
Neutrophil granulocyte migrates from the blood vessel to the matrix, secreting proteolytic enzymes, in order to dissolve intercellular connections (for improvement of its mobility) and envelop bacteria through Phagocytosis.
Image by Uwe Thormann/Wikimedia
Neutrophil
Image by BruceBlaus
White Blood Cells
A type of immune cell. Most white blood cells are made in the bone marrow and are found in the blood and lymph tissue. White blood cells help the body fight infections and other diseases. Granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes are white blood cells.
Image by Blausen.com staff (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014"
high white blood cell count Video
Video by itbestshop/YouTube
What Are White Blood Cells | Health | Biology | FuseSchool
Video by FuseSchool - Global Education/YouTube
Learning to Decode Your Blood Test Results for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Video by CLL Society/YouTube
WellnessFX: White Blood Cells And Differential with Bryan Walsh
Video by WellnessFX/YouTube
White Blood Count
White Blood Count
Image by TheVisualMD
White Blood Cell Count: Bone Marrow
TheVisualMD
White Blood Cells, Bone Marrow
TheVisualMD
2:12
Complete Blood Count, and Baselining Your Health
TheVisualMD
6:49
The Immune System Explained I – Bacteria Infection
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell/YouTube
1:47
Immune Response to Bacteria
NIAID/YouTube
14:59
Immunology - Adaptive Immune System
Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
3:02
Immune System - Natural Killer Cell
Kyle Thornthwaite/YouTube
15:02
Your Immune System: Natural Born Killer - Crash Course Biology #32
CrashCourse/YouTube
White Blood Cell and Red Blood Cell
TheVisualMD
White Blood Cell and Red Blood Cell
TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell and White Blood Cell
TheVisualMD
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Blood cells (from left to right: erythrocyte, thrombocyte, leukocyte)
Electron Microscopy Facility at The National Cancer Institute at Frederick (NCI-Frederick)
Bone structure
Smart Servier website
Blood Cells
Blausen.com staff (2014). \"Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014\"
Phagocytosis - C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance made by the liver that is released into the bloodstream by inflammation and infection as part of the body's immune response.
TheVisualMD
White blood cells
NIAID
Neutrophil
NIAID
Innate immune system
US Gov
Macrophage Capturing Foreign Antigen
TheVisualMD
Mast Cell
TheVisualMD
Leukocytes
OpenStax College
Innate immune system
OpenStax College
Eosinophilia
Iceclanl
Two neutrophils among many red blood cells. Neutrophils are one type of cell affected by chronic granulomatous disease.
Uploaded by Mgiganteus
Eosinophils
NIAID
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Blood Cells
Bruce Wetzel (photographer). Harry Schaefer (photographer), National Cancer Institute
Immune System and Autoimmune Diseases
TheVisualMD
Eosinophils
BruceBlaus
Eosinophils
Davidcsaba Dr. David Csaba L.
Neutrophil action - Inflammation
Uwe Thormann/Wikimedia
Neutrophil
BruceBlaus
White Blood Cells
Blausen.com staff (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014"
8:22
high white blood cell count Video
itbestshop/YouTube
3:12
What Are White Blood Cells | Health | Biology | FuseSchool
FuseSchool - Global Education/YouTube
1:17:17
Learning to Decode Your Blood Test Results for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
CLL Society/YouTube
16:52
WellnessFX: White Blood Cells And Differential with Bryan Walsh
A platelet count test measures the number of platelets in your blood. Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are small blood cells that are essential for blood clotting. Platelets may be counted to monitor or diagnose diseases, or to look for the cause of too much bleeding or clotting.
A platelet count test measures the number of platelets in your blood. Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are small blood cells that are essential for blood clotting. Platelets may be counted to monitor or diagnose diseases, or to look for the cause of too much bleeding or clotting.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
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10³/μL
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A normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. Platelets are tiny blood cells that are made in the bone marrow from larger cells. When you are injured, platelets stick together to form a plug to seal your wound. This plug is called a blood clot.
Related conditions
Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are small blood cells that are essential for blood clotting. Clotting is the process that helps you stop bleeding after an injury. There are two types of platelet tests: a platelet count test and platelet function tests.
A platelet count test measures the number of platelets in your blood. A lower than normal platelet count is called thrombocytopenia. This condition can cause you to bleed too much after a cut or other injury that causes bleeding. A higher than normal platelet count is called thrombocytosis. This can make your blood clot more than you need it to. Blood clots can be dangerous because they can block blood flow.
Other names: platelet count, thrombocyte count
A platelet count is most often used to monitor or diagnose conditions that cause too much bleeding or too much clotting. A platelet count may be included in a complete blood count, a test that is often done as part of a regular checkup.
You may need platelet count testing if you have symptoms of having too few or too many platelets.
Symptoms of too few platelets include:
Prolonged bleeding after a minor cut or injury
Nosebleeds
Unexplained bruising
Pinpoint sized red spots on the skin, known as petechiae
Purplish spots on the skin, known as purpura. These may be caused by bleeding under the skin.
Heavy and/or prolonged menstrual periods
Symptoms of too many platelets include:
Numbness of hands and feet
Headache
Dizziness
Weakness
Most platelet tests are done on a blood sample.
During the test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for a platelet count test.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
If your results show a lower than normal platelet count (thrombocytopenia), it may indicate:
A cancer that affects the blood, such as leukemia or lymphoma
A viral infection, such as mononucleosis, hepatitis, or measles
An autoimmune disease. This is a disorder that causes the body to attack its own healthy tissues, which can include platelets.
Infection or damage to the bone marrow
Cirrhosis
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Gestational thrombocytopenia, a common, but mild, low-platelet condition affecting pregnant women. It is not known to cause any harm to a mother or her unborn baby. It usually gets better on its own during pregnancy or after birth.
If your results show a higher than normal platelet count (thrombocytosis), it may indicate:
Certain types of cancer, such as lung cancer or breast cancer
Anemia
Inflammatory bowel disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
A viral or bacterial infection
Platelet Tests: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Platelet Count (PLT) Blood Test - Testing.com. Dec 19, 2023 [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Platelet count: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (8)
Platelet Development
Illustration of Platelet Development
Image by OpenStax College
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Platelet Disorders
From left to right: erythrocyte, thrombocyte, leukocyte
Image by Electron Microscopy Facility at The National Cancer Institute at Frederick (NCI-Frederick)
Scheme of a blood sample after centrifugation
scheme of a blood sample after centrifugation
Image by KnuteKnudsen (talk)
Decode Your Blood Test: Platelets 💉 | Merck Manual Consumer Version
Video by Merck Manuals/YouTube
This browser does not support the video element.
Complete Blood Count, and Baselining Your Health
Video Topics : Our lifeblood consists of many components and a complete blood count (CBC) includes measurements of the fundamental elements. The largest categories are red and white blood cells (RBCs and WBCs) and cell fragments called platelets, which play roles in blood clotting. There are 20-30 trillion red blood cells in the body of an adult, each with a lifespan of about 100 days (RBCs contain an iron-containing protein called hemoglobin that enables them to carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body and then return carbon dioxide to the lungs). WBCs are in the front lines in the body's ongoing fight against harmful viruses, bacteria and even fungus; when a pathogen enters the body, WBCs mobilize in a coordinated defense response to eliminate, neutralize or mark the invader for destruction. The liquid portion of blood is called plasma and it carries nutrients, electrolytes, waste products, and hormones.
Video by TheVisualMD
Platelets Nursing Considerations, Normal Range, Nursing Care, Lab Values Nursing
Video by NURSINGcom/YouTube
Platelets Explained in Two Minutes
Video by American Red Cross/YouTube
The life and times of RBCs and platelets
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Platelet Development
OpenStax College
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Platelet Disorders
Electron Microscopy Facility at The National Cancer Institute at Frederick (NCI-Frederick)
Scheme of a blood sample after centrifugation
KnuteKnudsen (talk)
0:48
Decode Your Blood Test: Platelets 💉 | Merck Manual Consumer Version
Merck Manuals/YouTube
2:12
Complete Blood Count, and Baselining Your Health
TheVisualMD
3:54
Platelets Nursing Considerations, Normal Range, Nursing Care, Lab Values Nursing
NURSINGcom/YouTube
1:47
Platelets Explained in Two Minutes
American Red Cross/YouTube
10:35
The life and times of RBCs and platelets
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin Blood Test
Also called: Hemoglobin, Hgb
A hemoglobin test measures the levels of hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Abnormal levels may mean you have anemia or another blood disorder.
Hemoglobin Blood Test
Also called: Hemoglobin, Hgb
A hemoglobin test measures the levels of hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Abnormal levels may mean you have anemia or another blood disorder.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
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g/dL
13.8
17.2
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Heme, an iron-containing molecule, combines with globin proteins to form hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in red blood cells from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Related conditions
A hemoglobin test measures the levels of hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. If your hemoglobin levels are abnormal, it may be a sign that you have a blood disorder.
Other names: Hb, Hgb
A hemoglobin test is often used to check for anemia, a condition in which your body has fewer red blood cells than normal. If you have anemia, the cells in your body don't get all the oxygen they need. Hemoglobin tests are measured as part of a complete blood count (CBC).
Your health care provider may order the test as part of a routine exam, or if you have:
Symptoms of anemia, which include weakness, dizziness, and cold hands and feet
A family history of thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, or other inherited blood disorder
A diet low in iron and other minerals
A long-term infection
Excessive blood loss from an injury or surgical procedure
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparation for a hemoglobin test. If your health care provider has ordered other tests on your blood sample, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your health care provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. After the test, some people experience mild pain, dizziness, or bruising. These symptoms usually go away quickly.
There are many reasons your hemoglobin levels may not be in the normal range.
Low hemoglobin levels may be a sign of:
Different types of anemia
Thalassemia
Iron deficiency
Liver disease
Cancer and other diseases
High hemoglobin levels may be a sign of:
Lung disease
Heart disease
Polycythemia vera, a disorder in which your body makes too many red blood cells. It can cause headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
If any of your levels are abnormal, it doesn't always mean you have a medical condition that needs treatment. Diet, activity level, medicines, a menstrual period, and other factors can affect the results. You may also have higher than normal hemoglobin levels if you live in a high altitude area. Talk with your provider to learn what your results mean.
Some forms of anemia are mild, while other types of anemia can be serious and even life threatening if not treated. If you are diagnosed with anemia, be sure to talk to your health care provider to find out the best treatment plan for you.
Hemoglobin Test: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Hemoglobin: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Hemoglobin - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (16)
Hemoglobin | Human anatomy and physiology | Health & Medicine | Khan Academy
Video by Khan Academy/YouTube
Blood, Part 2 - There Will Be Blood: Crash Course A&P #30
Video by CrashCourse/YouTube
Haemoglobin
Video by Wellcome Trust/YouTube
Hemoglobin A1c & Diabetes
Video by DiabeTV/YouTube
Hemoglobin Molecule
Molecule of hemoglobin.
Image by TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin A1C Molecule
Hemoglobin is a protein found inside red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body. Hemoglobin also binds with glucose. Diabetics have too much glucose in the bloodstream and this extra glucose binds (or glycates) with hemoglobin. Glycated hemoglobin usually stays glycated for the life of the red blood cell (about 3 months). Therefore, the percentage of hemoglobin that is glycated (measured as A1C) reflects glucose levels that have affected red blood cells up to 3 months in the past. The hemoglobin A1C test measures the percentage of hemoglobin bound to blood sugar (glucose); the test is used to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Because the test results reflect average blood sugar levels over a period of 2-3 months (rather than daily fluctuations), the hemoglobin A1C test is also used to gauge how well patients are managing their diabetes over time.
Image by TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin A1C: Red Blood Cells
Red blood cells use the iron-rich protein hemoglobin to carry oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body and return carbon dioxide to the lungs. The percentage of hemoglobin bound to blood glucose (hemoglobin A1C) is used to diagnose diabetes.
Image by TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin of Red Blood Cell
Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein found in red blood cells that binds oxygen and carbon dioxide for transport and delivery to different parts of the body.
Image by TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin Molecule
Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that is packed inside RBCs. It is a structurally complex molecule that can change shape to either hold or release oxygen, depending on the body's need. There are close to 300 million hemoglobin molecules within each RBC.
Image by TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin Molecule Heme Group
A heme group in a hemoglobin molecule consists of an iron atom bound equally to four nitrogen atoms, all lying in one plane. The iron atom is the site of oxygen binding.
Image by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Hemoglobin Within Red Blood Cell (RBC)
A red blood cell rushes toward the camera, the camera enters the cell to focus on all of the hemoglobin molecules within
Video by TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin, Carbon Monoxide
Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein that enables red blood cells to deliver oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body. But the same binding site on the hemoglobin molecule has an even stronger affinity for carbon monoxide, which is why we are so susceptible to poisoning by this deadly gas; carbon monoxide grabs all the binding sites and starves the body's tissues of oxygen
Image by TheVisualMD
This browser does not support the video element.
Hemoglobin A1c
The hemoglobin A1c test measures the percentage of hemoglobin bound to blood sugar (glucose); the test is used to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Because the test results reflect average blood sugar levels over a period of 2-3 months (rather than daily fluctuations), the hemoglobin A1C test is also used to gauge how well patients are managing their diabetes over time.
Video by TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin A1c
The hemoglobin A1c test measures the percentage of hemoglobin bound to blood sugar (glucose); the test is used to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Because the test results reflect average blood sugar levels over a period of 2-3 months (rather than daily fluctuations), the hemoglobin A1C test is also used to gauge how well patients are managing their diabetes over time.
Image by TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin: O2 Binding Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin normally binds to life-sustaining oxygen. But the same binding site on the hemoglobin molecule has an even stronger affinity for carbon monoxide, which is why we are so susceptible to poisoning by this deadly gas.
Image by TheVisualMD
HemoglobinA1C
Hemoglobin Test for O2 Binding Hemoglobin : A hemoglobin test is a measurement of your blood's oxygen-carrying capacity. High levels of hemoglobin can be the result of dehydration, lung disease and other conditions. Low levels of hemoglobin indicate that there is a shortage of red blood cells; this can be the result of RBCs being lost or destroyed too quickly or produced too slowly. Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein that enables red blood cells to deliver oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body. But the same binding site on the hemoglobin molecule has an even stronger affinity for carbon monoxide, which is why we are so susceptible to poisoning by this deadly gas; carbon monoxide grabs all the binding sites and starves the body's tissues of oxygen.
Image by TheVisualMD
14:34
Hemoglobin | Human anatomy and physiology | Health & Medicine | Khan Academy
Khan Academy/YouTube
10:01
Blood, Part 2 - There Will Be Blood: Crash Course A&P #30
CrashCourse/YouTube
5:31
Haemoglobin
Wellcome Trust/YouTube
1:43
Hemoglobin A1c & Diabetes
DiabeTV/YouTube
Hemoglobin Molecule
TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin A1C Molecule
TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin A1C: Red Blood Cells
TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin of Red Blood Cell
TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin Molecule
TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin Molecule Heme Group
TheVisualMD
0:27
Hemoglobin Within Red Blood Cell (RBC)
TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin, Carbon Monoxide
TheVisualMD
0:27
Hemoglobin A1c
TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin A1c
TheVisualMD
Hemoglobin: O2 Binding Hemoglobin
TheVisualMD
HemoglobinA1C
TheVisualMD
Hematocrit
Hematocrit Blood Test
Also called: Hematrocit, HCT, Crit, Packed Cell Volume, PCV
Hematocrit is a blood test that measures how much of a person's blood is made up of red blood cells. Hematocrit levels that are too high or too low can be a sign of a blood disorder, dehydration, or other medical conditions that affect your blood.
Hematocrit Blood Test
Also called: Hematrocit, HCT, Crit, Packed Cell Volume, PCV
Hematocrit is a blood test that measures how much of a person's blood is made up of red blood cells. Hematocrit levels that are too high or too low can be a sign of a blood disorder, dehydration, or other medical conditions that affect your blood.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
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%
40.7
50.3
Your result is Normal.
Normal hematocrit levels vary based on age and race. In adults, normal levels for men range from 41%-50%. For women, the normal range is slightly lower: 36%-44%.
Related conditions
A hematocrit test is a blood test that measures how much of your blood is made up of red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. The other parts of your blood include white blood cells (to help fight infection), platelets (to help make blood clots to stop bleeding), and a liquid called plasma.
Hematocrit levels that are too high or too low can be a sign of a blood disorder, dehydration, or other medical conditions that affect your blood.
Other names: HCT, packed cell volume, PCV, Crit; H and H (Hemoglobin and Hematocrit)
A hematocrit test is often part of a complete blood count (CBC). A CBC is a common blood test that measures the different parts of your blood. It is used to check your general health. It may also be used to help diagnose blood disorders, including anemia, a condition in which you don't have enough red blood cells, and polycythemia, an uncommon disorder in which you have too many red blood cells and your blood becomes too thick.
Your health care provider may order a hematocrit test as part of your regular checkup or to monitor your health if you are being treated for cancer or have an ongoing health condition. Your provider may also order this test if you have symptoms of a red blood cell disorder, such as anemia or polycythemia:
Symptoms of anemia (too few red blood cells) may include:
Shortness of breath
Weakness or fatigue
Headache
Dizziness
Arrhythmia (a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat)
Symptoms of polycythemia (too many red blood cells) may include:
Headache
Feeling light-headed or dizzy
Shortness of breath
Weakness or fatigue
Skin symptoms such as itching after a shower or bath, burning, or a red face
Heavy sweating, especially during sleep
Blurred or double vision and blind spots
Bleeding gums and heavy bleeding from small cuts
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for a hematocrit test. If your provider has ordered more tests on your blood sample, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
There is very little risk to having a hematocrit test or other type of blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Your hematocrit test results are reported as a number. That number is the percentage of your blood that's made of red blood cells. For example, if your hematocrit test result is 42, it means that 42% of your blood is red blood cells and the rest is white blood cells, platelets, and blood plasma.
A hematocrit level that's lower than normal may be a sign that:
Your body doesn't have enough red blood cells (anemia). There are many types of anemia that can be caused by different medical conditions.
Your body is making too many white blood cells, which may be caused by:
Bone marrow disease
Certain cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, or cancers that spread to the bone marrow from other parts of the body
A hematocrit level that's higher than normal may be a sign that:
Your body is making too many red blood cells, which may be caused by:
Lung disease
Congenital heart disease
Heart failure
Polycythemia
Your blood plasma level is too low, which may be caused by:
Dehydration, the most common cause of a high hematocrit
Shock
If your results are not in the normal range, it doesn't always mean that you have a medical condition that needs treatment. Living at high altitudes where there's less oxygen in the air may cause a high hematocrit. That's because your body responds to low oxygen levels by making more red blood cells so that you get the oxygen you need.
Pregnancy can cause a low hematocrit. That's because the body has more fluid than normal during pregnancy, which decreases the percentage that's made of red blood cells.
To learn what your test results mean, talk with your provider.
Normal hematocrit levels will be different depending on your sex, age, and the altitude where you live. Ask your provider what hematocrit level is normal for you.
Hematocrit Test: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Hematocrit: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Hematrocit Blood Test - Testing.com. Sep 13, 2022 [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (30)
This browser does not support the video element.
Complete Blood Count, and Baselining Your Health
Video Topics : Our lifeblood consists of many components and a complete blood count (CBC) includes measurements of the fundamental elements. The largest categories are red and white blood cells (RBCs and WBCs) and cell fragments called platelets, which play roles in blood clotting. There are 20-30 trillion red blood cells in the body of an adult, each with a lifespan of about 100 days (RBCs contain an iron-containing protein called hemoglobin that enables them to carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body and then return carbon dioxide to the lungs). WBCs are in the front lines in the body's ongoing fight against harmful viruses, bacteria and even fungus; when a pathogen enters the body, WBCs mobilize in a coordinated defense response to eliminate, neutralize or mark the invader for destruction. The liquid portion of blood is called plasma and it carries nutrients, electrolytes, waste products, and hormones.
Video by TheVisualMD
Vial of Centrifuged Blood
Blood is made up of red and white blood cell (as well as platelets), suspended in a liquid known as blood plasma. Plasma, which makes up 55% of our blood's volume, is a clear liquid (mainly water) that transports food molecules, hormones, waste as well as a wide range of dissolved chemicals. Red cells, which normally make up 40-50% of total blood volume, are produced continuously in our bone marrow at the rate of about 2-3 million cells per second. White cells make up a very small part of blood's volume-normally only about 1% in healthy people. This image shows two vials of centrifuged blood. The left vial shows healthy amount of red blood cells in female (36-44%) ; The right vial shows healthy amount of red blood cells in male (41-50%). The hematocrit (along with the hemoglobin test) is the central test to diagnosing anemia in that it indicates the amount of RBCs in the blood.
Image by TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cells, Bone Marrow
A skeleton may have a dry and lifeless Halloween image, but bone is actually dynamic, living tissue. Bone is not uniformly solid; within its interior is a network of cavities that house blood vessels and marrow. Bone marrow, particularly in larger bones, is where stem cells give rise to red blood cells (erythrocytes) as well as white blood cells (leukocytes) and blood clotting agents (platelets). As the source of blood cells, the bone marrow is critical to health. Disease or damage to bone marrow can result in either too many or too few blood cells.
Hematocrit Nursing Considerations, Normal Range, Nursing Care, Lab Values Nursing
Video by NURSINGcom/YouTube
Hematocrit, Dehydration
Blood is composed of cells (primarily red blood cells, but also white blood cells and cell fragments called platelets) along with a liquid portion known as plasma. The ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the volume of plasma is an important health indicator and is known as the hematocrit. The most common cause of a high hematocrit is dehydration, which is usually temporary and easily remedied by increasing fluid intake, thereby restores the balance between RBCs and blood plasma volume.
Image by TheVisualMD
Hematocrit, Anemia
Blood is composed of cells (primarily red blood cells, but also white blood cells and cell fragments called platelets) along with a liquid portion known as plasma. The ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the volume of plasma is an important health indicator and is known as the hematocrit. A low hematocrit usually indicates anemia, which occurs when red blood cells are being either destroyed too quickly or produced too slowly; with fewer red blood cells, less oxygen is delivered to body tissues.
Image by TheVisualMD
Vial of Blood for Hematocrit Test
This image is a vial of blood that has been centrifuged (and thus separated) to determine hematocrit. This vial shows, from top to bottom, 55% plasma, <1% white blood cells, <1% platelets , 45% red blood cells. Hematocrit measures how much of the blood, by volume, is taken up by RBCs. A normal range for hematocrit is 41 to 50 percent in men and 36 to 44 percent in women. In many cases, a reading below the normal range for hematocrit will lead to a diagnosis of CKD-related anemia.This other diagnostic test is the hemoglobin test, which measures the amount of hemoglobin molecules in the blood and is a good indicator of the body's ability to carry oxygen throughout the body.
Image by TheVisualMD
Hematocrit: Bone Marrow
Bone marrow produces about 2 million red blood cells (RBCs) a second to maintain a healthy hematocrit. Many conditions, including kidney disease, chemotherapy, and dietary deficiencies, can reduce RBC production, while others can result in too many RBCs.
Image by TheVisualMD
Hematocrit: Blood Cells
The hematocrit is another way to look at the health of red blood cells (RBCs). Blood is composed of cells (primarily RBCs) and a liquid portion called plasma. The proportions of RBCs and plasma must be kept in balance and this is what the hematocrit measures.
Image by TheVisualMD
Blood
Components of Blood : Blood is mostly made up of plasma and red and white blood cells. But it also contains many other substances as well, like platelets, hormones, nutrients such as glucose, and fats like cholesterol. Blood is the fluid of life, transporting oxygen from the lungs to body tissue and carbon dioxide from body tissue to the lungs.
Image by TheVisualMD
Hematocrit
Hematocrit Blood Vials : If you are at risk for cardiovascular disease, your doctor may order a cholesterol and triglyceride level test as well as a complete blood count (CBC). Abnormal results may be the first clue in determining risk of and in diagnosing cardiovascular disease.
Image by TheVisualMD
Blood Smear Showing Reduced Red Blood Cell Count
Individual blood cells were first detected and described in the 17th century. Later, red blood cells (RBCs) were counted manually from a blood smear, a thin film of blood prepared on a glass slide and examined under a microscope (blood analysis is now automated, though smears are still used to detect visible abnormalities and to check or confirm the results of other tests). Anemia results when there are too few RBCs in circulation because they are being destroyed too quickly or produced too slowly. Anemia can be temporary or long term and range from mild to severe. Folate (also known as vitamin B9) is necessary for red blood cell production and the prevention of anemia, as well as the metabolism of carbohydrates. But folate also plays key roles in the synthesis and maintenance of DNA and is especially important in cell division and growth in fetal development (deficiencies of the vitamin in pregnancy is a common cause of birth defects). Pernicious anemia is a disorder in which the body's loses its ability to utilize folate and vitamin B12.
Image by TheVisualMD
Blood Smear Showing Normal Red Blood Cell Count
Individual blood cells were first detected and described in the 17th century. Later, red blood cells were counted manually from a blood smear, a thin film of blood prepared on a glass slide and examined under a microscope. Blood analysis is now automated, though blood smears are still used to detect visible abnormalities and to check or confirm the results of other tests. There are normally between 4.2-5.8 million red blood cells per microliter (about a drop), which means there are 20-30 trillion red blood cells circulating through the body of an adult.
Image by TheVisualMD
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Red Blood Cells Carry Oxygen
This video focuses on one of the main components of blood, the red blood cell and its function to carry oxygen. The video begins with revealing the red blood cells and the heart that pumps the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. Hemoglobin is the protein molecule found in these red blood cells that enable blood to transport oxygen. If the blood's capacity to transport oxygen to the tissues is reduced due to a decrease in the number of red blood cells, anemia may occur.
Video by TheVisualMD
Components of Blood
Components of Blood : Our blood is composed of many different components, the largest categories being red and white blood cells (blood-clotting platelets are another key component) and the liquid portion known as blood plasma. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) includes several of the most basic, yet important, measurements of these components.
Image by TheVisualMD
Blood and Related Conditions
Blood and Related Conditions : Anemia results when there are too few red blood cells circulating in the bloodstream to deliver adequate oxygen to body tissues. There are different types and causes of anemia, including malnutrition, chronic bleeding, and diseases that result in red blood cells either being destroyed too quickly or produced too slowly.
Image by TheVisualMD
Pellet of Lymphocyte Cells Created in the Centrifuge
This photograph shows Wendy Watford, Ph.D. holding a test tube containing isolated lymphocyte cells. The cells were spun in a centrifuge to create a pellet at the bottom of the test tube. The cells will be labeled with CFSE dye, which will stain the membranes of the cells. After culturing the cells for three days she will determine the number of cell divisions that have taken place by measuring the dilution of the CFSE dye. The purpose of the work is to measure the proliferation of lymphocytes under various conditions. The principal investigator for this work is John J. O’Shea, M.D., NIAMS Scientific Director.
Image by NIAMS/Photographer: Rhoda Baer
Red Blood Cells
Digital holographic microscopy (DHM) image of red blood cells.
Image by Egelberg (talk)
Test Tube
Between 5,000 and 8,000 blood serum, fecal, urine, viral and respiratory samples arrive six days a week from U.S. Air Force hospitals and clinics worldwide, as well as some other Department of Defense facilities, for analysis at the Epidemiology Laboratory Service, also known as the "Epi Lab" at the 711th Human Performance Wing’s United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine and Public Health at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.The lab is a Department of Defense reference laboratory offering clinical diagnostic, public health, and force health screening and testing. (U.S. Air Force photo by J.M. Eddins Jr.)
Image by U.S. Air Force photo by J.M. Eddins Jr.
Phlebotomy
This image was uploaded as part of Wiki Loves e-textbooks contest in Poland.
Image by Sean Michael Ragan
Red Blood Cells Carry Oxygen
This video focuses on one of the main components of blood, the red blood cell and its function to carry oxygen. The video begins with revealing the red blood cells and the heart that pumps the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. Hemoglobin is the protein molecule found in these red blood cells that enable blood to transport oxygen. If the blood's capacity to transport oxygen to the tissues is reduced due to a decrease in the number of red blood cells, anemia may occur.
Image by TheVisualMD
Composition of Blood
Composition of Blood
Image by OpenStax College
Hematology | Hematocrit
Video by Ninja Nerd/YouTube
Erythrocyte indices (Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, MCV, MCH & MCHC) What Do These Lab Tests Mean?
Video by Medicosis Perfectionalis/YouTube
How to Interpret RBC Indices (e.g. hemoglobin vs. hematocrit, MCV, RDW)
Video by Strong Medicine/YouTube
Haematocrit or PCV
Video by LabsforLifeProject/YouTube
Packed cell volume/ Hematocrit
Video by Pathology Simplified/YouTube
Fetal hemoglobin and hematocrit | Human anatomy and physiology | Health & Medicine | Khan Academy
Also called: MCV, MCV Blood Test, Mean Corpuscular Volume, Mean RBC Volume
A mean corpuscular volume (MCV) blood test measures the size of your red blood cells. If blood cells are too small or too large, it may indicate a blood disorder.
MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) Test
Also called: MCV, MCV Blood Test, Mean Corpuscular Volume, Mean RBC Volume
A mean corpuscular volume (MCV) blood test measures the size of your red blood cells. If blood cells are too small or too large, it may indicate a blood disorder.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
fL
76
96
Your result is Normal.
A normal MCV indicates that the red blood cells are normal average size, or normocytic. Normal results vary based on the laboratory and the method used.
Related conditions
MCV stands for mean corpuscular volume. An MCV blood test measures the average size of your red blood cells.
Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to every cell in your body. Your cells need oxygen to grow, reproduce, and stay healthy. If your red blood cells are too small or too large, it could be a sign of a blood disorder such as anemia, a lack of certain vitamins, or other medical conditions.
Other names: CBC with differential
An MCV blood test is often part of a complete blood count (CBC). A CBC is a common blood test that measures many parts of your blood, including red blood cells. It is used to check your general health.
An MCV test may also be used with other tests to help diagnose or monitor certain blood disorders, including anemia. There are many types of anemia. An MCV test can help diagnose which type of anemia you have.
Your health care provider may order a complete blood count, which includes an MCV test, as part of your regular checkup. You may also have the test if you have a chronic (long-lasting) condition that could lead to anemia or if you have the symptoms of anemia:
Shortness of breath
Weakness or fatigue
Headache
Dizziness
Arrhythmia (a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat)
During the test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for an MCV blood test. If your provider has ordered more tests on your blood sample, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. Your provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
An MCV test alone cannot diagnose any disease. Your provider will use the results of your MCV, other test results, and your medical history to make a diagnosis.
If your results show that your red blood cells are smaller than normal, it may be a sign of:
Certain types of anemia, including iron-deficiency anemia, the most common type
Thalassemia, an uncommon genetic condition
If your results show that your red blood cells are larger than normal, it may be a sign of:
Pernicious anemia, which may be caused by:
A lack of vitamin B12
A disease that affects your body's ability to use vitamin B12, such as certain autoimmune diseases, celiac disease, or Crohn's disease.
Anemia caused by a lack of folic acid
Liver disease
It's also possible to have anemia with a normal MCV. This may happen if anemia is caused by conditions, such as:
A sudden loss of blood
Kidney failure
Aplastic anemia (uncommon)
If your MCV levels are not in the normal range, it doesn't always mean that you have a medical problem that needs treatment. Diet, activity level, medicines, a menstrual period, and other conditions can affect the test results. Talk with your health care provider to learn what your results mean.
If your provider thinks you may have anemia or another blood disorder, you may have other red blood cell tests with an MCV. These tests may include a red blood cell count and measurements of hemoglobin. All together, these tests are called red blood cell indices.
MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume): MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Jan 20, 2024]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (22)
Microcytic, normocytic, and macrocytic anemias | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Non-megaloblastic Macrocytic Anemia
Video by Medicosis Perfectionalis/YouTube
Microcytic anemia | Hematologic System Diseases | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Living with and Managing Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Video by NHLBI/YouTube
Hemolytic Anemia
Video by DrER.tv/YouTube
Medical School - Anemia Made Easy
Video by iMedicalSchool/YouTube
Iron deficency anemia diagnosis | Hematologic System Diseases | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
WellnessFX: Red Blood Cell Indices Part 1 with Bryan Walsh
Video by WellnessFX/YouTube
WellnessFX: Red Blood Cell Indices Part 2 with Bryan Walsh
Video by WellnessFX/YouTube
Blood Brain Barrier Endothelium
The blood-brain barrier keeps potentially toxic substances from entering the brain. The semipermeable membrane formed by the tightly spaced cells of capillaries in this area selectively screens out large molecules, while permitting the transport of essential nutrients such as glucose. The endothelium is the cellular lining of the blood vessel and is made up of endothelial cells connected to one another by tight junctions. These are the strongest cell-to-cell adhesions in the body. Toxic materials being transported in the blood are too large to pass through these junctions and exit the blood. Therefore, the brain is protected from exposure to many harmful substances. The barrier is does not, however, prevent fat-soluble materials from entering the brain; this includes alcohol and nicotine.
Image by TheVisualMD
Normal Blood Glucose Levels in Capillary
This image depicts a healthy capillary with normal glucose (pink) and insulin (yellow) levels. Capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in your body, are where nutrients are transferred from blood to cells, and waste from cells to blood. The body's cells depend on sugar in the blood, which is derived from carbohydrates, for food and energy. Allowing for the innumerable differences among individuals, the threshold for a normal blood-sugar (glucose) level in healthy people is 100 mg/dL; that is, 100 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood. Lower-than-normal levels characterize hypoglycemia and higher than normal levels characterize hyperglycemia.
Image by TheVisualMD
Cross-Section of Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel with Normal Glucose and Insulin Levels
This image depicts a healthy capillary. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in your body and are where the transfer of nutrients from blood to cells and wastes from cells to the blood takes place.The cells of the body depend on sugar in the blood, derived from carbohydrates, for food and energy. Allowing for the innumerable differences among individuals, the threshold for a normal blood-sugar (glucose) level in healthy people is 100 mg/dL; that is, 100 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood. Lower-than-normal levels characterize hypoglycemia and higher than normal levels hyperglycemia.
Image by TheVisualMD
Blood Vessels in the Brain
The Blood Brain Barrier and Astrocytes type 1
Image by Ben Brahim Mohammed
Cross-Section of Damaged Capillary Blood Vessel with Very High Glucose and Insulin Levels
This image depicts an unhealthy, damaged capillary with very high levels of insulin and glucose. Capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in your body, are where nutrients are transferred from blood to cells, and waste from cells to the blood The body's cells depend on sugar (glucose) in the blood, which is derived from carbohydrates, for food and energy. Without insulin, glucose is not able to enter cells to be used as fuel. Allowing for the innumerable differences among individuals, the threshold for a normal blood-sugar (glucose) level in healthy people is 100 mg/dL; that is, 100 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood. Higher than normal levels lead to hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is the hallmark of prediabetes (between 100 and 125 mg/dL) and diabetes (126 mg/dL and higher). It is caused by either too little insulin being released by the pancreas or the body's inability to use insulin properly. Hyperglycemia leads to microangiopathy, marked by endothelial cell apoptosis (programmed cell death), accumulation of AGEs (advanced glycation end products), and thickening of the basement membrane, which can lead to development of lesions, vasoconstriction, and altered vessel function
Blood Components
This image highlights the vital components of blood: 55% plasma Plasma is the liquid river that transports every blood cell to its destination. Oxygen-carrying RBCs couldn't move through arteries, veins and capillaries without it. Even though it is a watery, almost clear fluid, plasma contains many important substances, including blood-clotting agents called platelets and protective proteins called antibodies which help us fight infection. When the clotting agents are removed from blood plasma, it is called serum, which is essential in many life-saving medical situations such as transplant surgery and trauma. <1% white blood cells (wbcs or leukocytes) Some leukocytes are produced in the bone marrow, while others are generated in lymph nodes scattered throughout the body. They are far less numerous than their sister RBCs, but leukocytes are the bedrock of the immune system and are the body's front line of defense. Different types of leukocytes fight infections in different ways. Some target bacterial or fungal infections, while others respond to parasitic threats or allergic reactions. <1% platelets Platelets perform the vital function of clotting blood at wound sites. They are small, even in comparison to the other cells of your blood, but they pack a wallop when it comes to healing a scrape or staunching a more serious wound. When you cut yourself shaving, platelets arrive on the scene like your personal emergency medical team, creating a natural bandage of clotted blood, which eventually forms a scab. 45% red blood cells rbcs or erythrocytes) RBCs are produced in the bone marrow and perform the fundamental task of delivering oxygen to all of the body's cells. The vial is an example of the hematocrit, one of many tests that make up the complete blood count (CBC). Hematocrit measures the volume of RBCs in your blood. A normal hematocrit reading for women is between 36 to 44 percent; for men it's 41 to 50 percent.
Image by TheVisualMD
Test Tube Containing Blood
Visualization of a test tube containing blood. Blood comprises of 55% plasma, 1% platelets and white blood cells, and 45% red blood cells.
Image by TheVisualMD
Blood Smear Showing Reduced Red Blood Cell Count
Individual blood cells were first detected and described in the 17th century. Later, red blood cells (RBCs) were counted manually from a blood smear, a thin film of blood prepared on a glass slide and examined under a microscope (blood analysis is now automated, though smears are still used to detect visible abnormalities and to check or confirm the results of other tests). Anemia results when there are too few RBCs in circulation because they are being destroyed too quickly or produced too slowly. Anemia can be temporary or long term and range from mild to severe. Folate (also known as vitamin B9) is necessary for red blood cell production and the prevention of anemia, as well as the metabolism of carbohydrates. But folate also plays key roles in the synthesis and maintenance of DNA and is especially important in cell division and growth in fetal development (deficiencies of the vitamin in pregnancy is a common cause of birth defects). Pernicious anemia is a disorder in which the body's loses its ability to utilize folate and vitamin B12.
Image by TheVisualMD
Red Blood Cell in Capillary
The cardiovascular system is vast network of arteries, veins and vessels that would extend 60,000 miles if stretched end-to-end. All but a tiny fraction of this vessel network is invisible to the naked eye. The smallest capillaries (from latin "hairlike") are so narrow that red blood cells must pass through in single file. Higher than normal blood iron levels have been linked to heart disease and the reason is believed to be the oxidative stress the excess iron places on the walls of the blood vessels. It is the biological counterpart of rust. There are 20-30 trillion red blood cells (RBCs) in an adult's body. The life span of RBCs, which are produced in bone marrow, is about 100 days, which means that 2 million die (and are replaced) each second, but in that short lifetime they can make 75,000 round trips between lungs, heart and tissues in the body.
Image by TheVisualMD
Kidney and Stem Cell Creating Red Blood Cell. B12 is critical for the creation of red blood cells.
We are used to thinking of our kidneys mostly as hardworking filters that rid our bodies of wastes and excess water. But the kidneys are also constantly monitoring and adjusting levels of key substances in the blood, depending on what the body needs. Specialized cells in the kidney that are very sensitive to low oxygen levels, for example, produce a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO), which in turn promotes the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. The boost in red blood cells increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
Image by TheVisualMD
Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel
Cross-section of Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel with Normal Glucose and Insulin Levels
Cross-Section of Damaged Capillary Blood Vessel with Very High Glucose and Insulin Levels
1
2
3
Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel and and Damaged Capillary Blood Vessel Caused by High Levels of Blood Glucose
1) Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel - This image depicts a healthy capillary. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in your body. They can be so thin in diameter that blood cells have to bend in order to pass through. Capillaries are where the transfer of nutrients from the blood to cells, and the transfer of waste from cells to blood, takes place. In a healthy body, the blood vessels are smooth and elastic.
2) Cross-Section of Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel with Normal Glucose and Insulin Levels - This image depicts a healthy capillary. The body's cells depend on sugar in the blood, which is derived from carbohydrates, for food and energy. Allowing for the innumerable differences among individuals, the threshold for a normal blood sugar (glucose, pink) level in healthy people is 100 mg/dL; that is, 100 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood. Lower-than-normal levels characterize hypoglycemia and higher-than-normal levels characterize hyperglycemia. Without insulin (yellow), glucose is not able to enter cells to be used as fuel. Because of this, healthy insulin levels are a key factor in keeping blood glucose levels normal.
3) Cross-Section of Damaged Capillary Blood Vessel with Very High Glucose and Insulin Levels - This image depicts an unhealthy, damaged capillary with very high levels of insulin and glucose. Higher than normal levels of blood glucose lead to hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is the hallmark of prediabetes (between 100 and 125 mg/dL) and diabetes (126 mg/dL and higher). It is caused by either too little insulin being released by the pancreas or the body's inability to use insulin properly. Hyperglycemia leads to microangiopathy, marked by endothelial cell apoptosis (programmed cell death), accumulation of AGEs (advanced glycation end products), and thickening of the basement membrane, which can lead to the development of lesions, vasoconstriction, and altered vessel function
Interactive by TheVisualMD
5:57
Microcytic, normocytic, and macrocytic anemias | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
4:39
Non-megaloblastic Macrocytic Anemia
Medicosis Perfectionalis/YouTube
9:42
Microcytic anemia | Hematologic System Diseases | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
3:56
Living with and Managing Iron-Deficiency Anemia
NHLBI/YouTube
3:24
Hemolytic Anemia
DrER.tv/YouTube
3:16
Medical School - Anemia Made Easy
iMedicalSchool/YouTube
9:54
Iron deficency anemia diagnosis | Hematologic System Diseases | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
This test measures the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in blood or other body fluids. LDH is an enzyme involved in energy production. High levels may be a sign of tissue damage or disease.
This test measures the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in blood or other body fluids. LDH is an enzyme involved in energy production. High levels may be a sign of tissue damage or disease.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
U/L
100
200
Your result is Normal.
Normal levels can vary depending on the person's age and the method used for testing.
Related conditions
A lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test usually measures the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in a sample of your blood. In certain cases, LDH levels are measured in samples of other body fluids. This includes testing fluid from the spine (cerebrospinal fluid), the belly (peritoneal fluid), and the chest (pleural fluid).
LDH is also called lactic acid dehydrogenase. It is an enzyme. An enzyme is a protein that speeds up certain chemical reactions in your body. LDH helps your cells make energy. It is found in almost all the tissues in your body. The largest amounts of LDH are found in your muscles, liver, kidneys, and red blood cells.
If disease or injury damages tissues that have LDH, their cells release the enzyme into your bloodstream or other body fluids. It's normal to have some LDH in your blood and body fluids. But if your LDH levels are high, it may be a sign of certain diseases or injuries.
An LDH test alone can't show what is damaging your tissues or where the damage is located. So, an LDH test is usually done with other types of tests that can help diagnose the problem.
Other names: LD test, lactic dehydrogenase, lactic acid dehydrogenase
LDH is mainly used to check for tissue damage. Many types of acute (sudden) and chronic (long-lasting) conditions can damage tissues and cause high LDH levels. So LDH testing may be used in many different situations from bone and muscle injuries to monitoring treatment for cancer. For example, an LDH test may be used to:
Help diagnose and/or monitor diseases that affect the:
Blood, including anemia
Liver
Lungs
Kidneys
Heart, including heart attack
Pancreas
Brain and spinal cord, such as encephalitis and bacterial meningitis
Help monitor conditions that may get worse over time, such as muscular dystrophy and HIV
Help diagnose certain severe infections
Find out how serious certain types of cancer may be, including multiple myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia, testicular cancer, and melanoma.
Check whether treatment for certain types of cancer is working
Because LDH testing is used for so many conditions, it's best to ask your health care provider why you need an LDH test. In general, the test is ordered if other tests and/or your symptoms suggest you have tissue damage or disease.
If you have a disease that affects LDH levels, you may need an LDH test to learn more about your condition and to find out if your treatment is helping.
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
If your provider thinks you have a condition that may affect LDH levels in other body fluids, you may have a procedure to get a fluid sample. These procedures may include:
A lumbar puncture or "spinal tap" to collect cerebrospinal fluid that flows around your brain and spinal cord
A thoracentesis to remove fluid in the chest
A paracentesis or "abdominal tap" to remove fluid from the abdomen
If you are having one of these tests, your provider will explain the procedure.
You don't need any special preparations for an LDH blood test. If your test uses other fluid samples, your provider will tell you how to prepare.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly. If you are having another type of test, your provider will explain the risks.
LDH testing is used for many reasons. The meaning of your LDH test results depends on the reason you had the test, your symptoms, and the results of other tests you've had. So, ask your provider to explain what your results say about your health.
In general, LDH levels that are higher than normal usually mean you have some type of tissue damage. The damage is usually from disease, infection, or injury. Your provider may order more tests to diagnose your condition.
But higher a than normal LDH level doesn't always mean you have a medical condition that needs treatment. High levels can be caused by intense exercise and certain medicines, including aspirin. It's also possible to have a high LDH level if many red blood cells broke open when your sample was collected and tested.
Lower than normal LDH levels aren't common and usually aren't considered to be a health problem. Taking large amounts of vitamin C or vitamin E may cause low levels. Low LDH levels may also be caused by a rare genetic disorder called lactate dehydrogenase deficiency.
If your results showed higher than normal LDH levels, your provider may order a more specific type of LDH test that can help find out where the LDH is coming from. This more specific test is called an LDH isoenzyme test.
An LDH isoenzyme test measures the levels of five different forms of LDH. This information helps your provider find out about the type of tissue that's damaged, where in the body it may be, and how serious the damage may be.
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Test: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Jan 28, 2024]
Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase (Blood) - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center [accessed on Oct 16, 2018]
LabCorp Test Menu / 001115: Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase (LD) [accessed on Oct 16, 2018]
LD - Clinical: Lactate Dehydrogenase (LD), Serum [accessed on Oct 16, 2018]
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) - Understand the Test & Your Results [accessed on Oct 16, 2018]
Lactate dehydrogenase test: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [accessed on Oct 16, 2018]
Lactate Dehydrogenase Test: Types, Procedure, and Results [accessed on Oct 16, 2018]
Lactate dehydrogenase deficiency - Genetics Home Reference - NIH [accessed on Oct 16, 2018]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Complications after a heart attack (myocardial infarction) | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Preventing Stroke (Stroke #4)
Video by Healthguru/YouTube
Understanding Stroke (Stroke #1)
Video by Healthguru/YouTube
Stroke - Carotid Artery Disease and TIA
Video by EdwardHospital/YouTube
3D Medical Animation - What is a Heart Attack?
Video by BioDigital, Inc./YouTube
Cerebral hemorrhage
Cerebral hemorrhage : This image shows an Intracerebral and Intraventricular hemorrhage of a young woman. The woman was one week post partum, with no known trauma involved.
Image by Glitzy queen00
Cerebral hemorrhage
Cerebral hemorrhage : Spontaneous ICH with hydrocephalus on CT scan.
Image by Yadav YR, Mukerji G, Shenoy R, Basoor A, Jain G, Nelson A
Cerebral hemorrhage
Cerebral hemorrhage : An intracranial bleed with significant midline shift.
Image by James Heilman, MD
Ischemic Stroke
Ischemic Stroke: The illustration shows how an ischemic stroke can occur in the brain. If a blood clot breaks away from plaque buildup in a carotid (neck) artery, it can travel to and lodge in an artery in the brain. The clot can block blood flow to part of the brain, causing brain tissue death.
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Insitute (NIH)
What Is a Heart Attack?
Diagram showing a heart attack (mycardial infaction).
Image by NIH: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist
Ischemic Stroke
ConstructionDealMkting
HIV Screening
HIV Screening Test
Also called: HIV Test, HIV Screening
An HIV test is used to diagnose infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). There is no cure for HIV, but early diagnosis and treatment can help you stay healthy. There are three main types of HIV tests.
HIV Screening Test
Also called: HIV Test, HIV Screening
An HIV test is used to diagnose infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). There is no cure for HIV, but early diagnosis and treatment can help you stay healthy. There are three main types of HIV tests.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Negative.
A negative result means you do not have HIV, unless you had a recent exposure. That’s because of the window period — the time between HIV exposure and when a test can detect HIV in your body.
Related conditions
An HIV test checks a sample of your blood to see whether you are infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV is a virus that destroys certain cells in your immune system. These cells protect your body against diseases from germs, such as bacteria and viruses, and fungi. If you lose too many immune cells, your body will have trouble fighting off infections and other diseases.
HIV is spread through contact with blood and other body fluids from a person who has an HIV infection. This usually happens during sex or when sharing needles or other items used to inject drugs.
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is the final, most serious stage of an HIV infection. Without treatment, HIV gradually destroys your immune system, which leads to AIDS. With AIDS, your body has trouble fighting off infections from germs that usually don't cause problems in healthy people. These are called opportunistic infections, and they can become life-threatening. AIDS increases your risk of developing certain cancers, too.
Most people with HIV don't have AIDS. If you have HIV and you take HIV medicines as prescribed, you may never get AIDS. Getting tested for HIV helps catch the virus early so you can start treatment, stay healthy, and avoid spreading HIV.
If you think you were exposed to HIV, talk with your health care provider right away about emergency treatment, called PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis). PEP may prevent an HIV infection if it is started within three days after a possible exposure. The sooner you start, the better. You will need to have HIV tests during and after taking PEP.
There are three main types of HIV tests. They are all very accurate, but no test can find HIV in your body immediately after you're infected. That's because it can take weeks until the signs of HIV in your body increase enough to show up on a test. The time between infection and when a test can find HIV depends on your body's response to HIV and the type of test you have:
HIV antibody tests look for HIV antibodies in your blood, saliva (spit), or urine (pee). HIV antibodies are disease-fighting proteins that your immune system makes when you have an HIV infection. Some people make antibodies faster than others. An antibody test may find HIV antibodies as early as 23 days after infection, but it may take as long as 90 days before your body makes enough antibodies to show up on this test.
Antibody tests can be done in different ways:
Lab tests use a blood sample taken from a vein. In general, lab tests can find antibodies sooner after infection than other HIV antibody tests. Test results are usually ready a few days after your blood sample is taken.
Rapid tests use blood from your finger, saliva, or urine. They provide results in about 30 minutes.
At-home tests include rapid self-test kits with everything you need to collect and test a sample of saliva on your own. With mail-in tests, you collect a drop of blood from your finger to send to a lab for testing.
HIV antibody/antigen tests are the most commonly used HIV tests. They look for HIV antibodies and antigens in your blood. An antigen is the part of the HIV virus that triggers your immune system to fight the infection. After an HIV exposure, antigens will show up in your blood sooner than antibodies:
Lab tests that use a blood sample from a vein can find an HIV infection as soon as 18 to 45 days after you were infected.
Rapid tests use a drop of blood from your finger. This test can find HIV infections starting between 18 days to 90 days after you were infected.
At-home tests, or mail-in tests, allow you to collect blood from your finger at home to send to a lab for testing. Like rapid tests, these tests can start finding HIV 18 to 90 days after infection.
NAT tests (nucleic acid tests) look for HIV in a sample of your blood taken from a vein and tested in a lab. These tests may also be called "viral load tests." They can usually find an HIV infection as soon as 10 to 33 days after infection. But they are mostly used for monitoring HIV treatment and not for routine screening, because they are expensive. Ask your provider about having a NAT test as soon as possible if you:
May have been exposed to HIV and have symptoms, such as:
Flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, aches
Extreme fatigue
Swollen lymph nodes (in your neck, groin, or armpit)
Rash
Sores in your mouth
Know you were exposed to HIV or were very likely exposed
Other names: HIV antibody/antigen tests, HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibody and antigen evaluation, HIV test, human immunodeficiency virus antibody test, type 1, HIV p24 antigen test
An HIV screening test is used to find out if you have been infected with HIV. It may be done as a routine test or after a possible exposure to find out if you were infected with HIV.
If HIV is found early, you can take medicines to protect your health so you don't get AIDS. And medicines can help you avoid spreading HIV to others.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care.
You may need to be tested more than once if you have a higher risk for infection. If your last HIV test was more than a year ago, you should get tested as soon as possible if you have:
Had vaginal or anal sex with someone who has HIV (HIV positive) or whose HIV status you don't know
Injected drugs and shared needles, syringes, or other drug items with other people
Exchanged sex for money or drugs
Had a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as syphilis
Had sex with anyone who has done anything listed above
If you regularly do any of the things on the above list, you should be tested for HIV at least once every year. Certain people, including men who have sex with men (MSM), may benefit from being tested more often, depending on their risk. Ask your provider how often you should be tested.
If you are pregnant, your doctor may order an HIV test. That's because HIV can be passed to the baby during pregnancy and birth, and through breast milk. There are medicines you can take during pregnancy and delivery that greatly reduce your risk of spreading HIV your baby.
There are many places to get tested for HIV, including at your doctor's office, health clinics, testing programs in your community, and at home. If you go somewhere for your test, a staff person or counselor will explain what type of sample will be taken and how. If you do a test at home, be sure to follow all the instructions that come with your test kit.
For blood from a vein, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
For blood from a finger, a health care professional will use a special tool (lancet) to prick your finger and collect a sample of blood. If you are collecting your own blood sample to send to a lab, follow the instructions that come with your collection kit.
For a saliva sample, a health care professional will wipe a special swab along your gums. If you are doing an at-home test, you will do this yourself according to the instructions.
You don't need any special preparations for an HIV test. If you are getting tested in a health clinic or community program, a counselor may talk with you about your risk for HIV. So, you may want to write down any questions you have ahead of time.
There is very little risk to having any HIV screening test. If you have blood taken from a vein, you may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
A negative test result means that no signs of an HIV infection were found in your sample. But that doesn't always mean that you don't have HIV. You could have an HIV infection, but it's too soon for the test to tell and you made need another test later. Your provider or an HIV counselor can explain your test result and let you know if you need another test.
In general, if you have a negative result on a rapid test or an at-home test and a possible HIV exposure that was:
90 days ago or longer, you can be confident that you don't have HIV
Less than 90 days ago, you will likely need another test later to check for HIV again
A positive test result means that signs of an HIV infection were found in your sample. You will need a follow-up test to confirm an HIV diagnosis unless you had a NAT test.
If you used an at-home test, see your provider for follow-up testing.
If you had your test at medical office or community program, the testing site will arrange your follow-up test.
If your follow-up test is also positive, it means you have HIV. It's important to start medicines called antiretroviral therapy (ART) right away, even if you're still healthy. ART can't cure HIV, but it may lower the amount of virus in your blood so much that a test can't find it. If you're living with HIV, it's important to see your provider regularly for tests to check how your treatment is working.
HIV testing can be anonymous. That means you do not have to give your name when you take an HIV test. Instead, you'll receive a number. To get your test results, you'll give the number instead of your name.
HIV Screening Test: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Mar 15, 2024]
Additional Materials (21)
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HIV Testing
HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, is an often sexually-transmitted infection that attacks the body's immune system and leaves it vulnerable to disease. HIV infection can progress in stages to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), a potentially life-threatening condition. The progression of HIV infection to an AIDS diagnosis can be slowed or prevented with medical treatment if the infection is detected early enough. Screening tests include the HIV antibody test, rapid HIV testing, HIV antibody/antigen tests, and early-detection tests. The CDC recommends at least one test for everyone aged 13 to 64. Any patient whom a physician considers to be at high risk, and anyone initiating a new sexual relationship, should be screened more frequently in accordance with a doctor's recommendations.
Video by TheVisualMD
Now’s the Time to Find Out About PrEP and PEP
This brochure provides information about both PrEP and PEP and provides useful tips on what to ask your health care provider.
Document by CDC
Glossary of HIV/AIDS-Related Terms
Document by ClinicalInfo.HIV.gov
Alcohol and HIV/AIDS: Intertwining Stories
Document by NIAAA
Let's Stop HIV Together – HIV Self-Testing Demonstration
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
HIV Basics: Testing, Prevention, and Living with HIV
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
CDC | HIV Testing and Treatment: Meeting People Where They Are
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
CDC: Start Talking. Stop HIV.: Conversations
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
What you need to know about HIV testing
Video by Science Animated/YouTube
Five Things to Know About HIV Testing! (1:00)
Video by Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
Get clear on HIV testing
Video by CLCH NHS Trust/YouTube
Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: The importance of HIV testing
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Doing It — HIV Testing in Non-clinical Settings
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
HIV Testing
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
WHO: HIV self-testing - Questions and Answers
Video by World Health Organization (WHO)/YouTube
Understanding Your HIV Self-Test Results
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
Doing It — Know Your HIV Status
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
Doing It — Reasons Why You Should Get Tested for HIV
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
HIV Basics
Video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
HIV Testing: What You Need to Know
Video by CATIE/YouTube
What is the window period for HIV testing?
Video by NAM – aidsmap/YouTube
3:20
HIV Testing
TheVisualMD
Now’s the Time to Find Out About PrEP and PEP
CDC
Glossary of HIV/AIDS-Related Terms
ClinicalInfo.HIV.gov
Alcohol and HIV/AIDS: Intertwining Stories
NIAAA
4:26
Let's Stop HIV Together – HIV Self-Testing Demonstration
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
5:15
HIV Basics: Testing, Prevention, and Living with HIV
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
1:49
CDC | HIV Testing and Treatment: Meeting People Where They Are
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
5:08
CDC: Start Talking. Stop HIV.: Conversations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
1:47
What you need to know about HIV testing
Science Animated/YouTube
1:01
Five Things to Know About HIV Testing! (1:00)
Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
2:26
Get clear on HIV testing
CLCH NHS Trust/YouTube
19:38
Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: The importance of HIV testing
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
0:41
Doing It — HIV Testing in Non-clinical Settings
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
1:08
HIV Testing
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
3:53
WHO: HIV self-testing - Questions and Answers
World Health Organization (WHO)/YouTube
2:38
Understanding Your HIV Self-Test Results
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
2:47
Doing It — Know Your HIV Status
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
0:58
Doing It — Reasons Why You Should Get Tested for HIV
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
1:03
HIV Basics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/YouTube
3:55
HIV Testing: What You Need to Know
CATIE/YouTube
2:20
What is the window period for HIV testing?
NAM – aidsmap/YouTube
HIV Antibody Tests
HIV Antibody Tests
Also called: HIV-1/HIV-2 Testing
HIV antibody tests look for HIV antibodies in your blood, saliva (spit), or urine (pee). HIV antibodies are disease-fighting proteins that your immune system makes when you have an HIV infection. An antibody test can be used to screen for HIV or to differentiate between HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection.
HIV Antibody Tests
Also called: HIV-1/HIV-2 Testing
HIV antibody tests look for HIV antibodies in your blood, saliva (spit), or urine (pee). HIV antibodies are disease-fighting proteins that your immune system makes when you have an HIV infection. An antibody test can be used to screen for HIV or to differentiate between HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Negative.
A negative HIV antibody test means no antibodies were detected. A negative test can rule out an HIV infection. It may also mean that the immune system has not had time to produce antibodies — antibodies to HIV may take up to six months to develop after the initial exposure.
Related conditions
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Non-reactive.
A non-reactive result means that the test is negative for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies, the 2 types of HIV known to infect humans. Additional testing may be recommended.
Related conditions
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) debilitates your immune system by harming your white blood cells (leukocytes), making you prone to catch any virus, bacteria, or fungi, including those that usually don’t make people sick.
If left untreated, HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is the final stage of the infection.
HIV is transmitted through:
Unprotected sexual intercourse
From an infected mother to her fetus
Lactation from an infected mother
Having direct contact with the blood of an infected person through an open wound
From an injury with a blood-covered object (such as a needle)
There are two types of HIV, which are type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2).The only difference between them is that HIV type 2 is found only in West Africa and an individual can become infected with HIV-2 only by having sexual intercourse or entering in contact with the blood of an infected person from that geographic region.
An HIV antibody test refers to the detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and type 2 antibodies in a sample of your blood.
Usually, screening is done with a combination HIV antigen/antibody test. If that test result comes back positive, an HIV test that differentiates between HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies is performed.
HIV screening is the only way to know if you are infected. Is recommended that any person between the ages of 13 to 64 years and every pregnant woman gets tested for HIV at least once.
There are other situations in which you should also be tested, even if you were already screened or if you don’t belong to the group of people who are between 13 to 64 years of age. These situations include:
If you were diagnosed with tuberculosis, hepatitis B or C, or another sexually transmitted disease.
If you had a sexual partner who has been recently diagnosed with HIV.
If you suspect or know that your partner had sex with another person.
If you are a healthcare worker and had direct contact with blood while doing your job.
If you think you may have been exposed to the virus.
Annual screening for HIV is recommended if you are at high-risk of contracting the virus. You have a higher risk if you:
Have had unprotected sex with multiple partners since your last HIV screening.
Are a man and had sex with another man
Have used illegal injected drugs, especially if you have shared needles
Have a sexual partner who is HIV positive.
Are a sex-worker
A needle will be used to extract a small quantity of blood from a vein in your arm.
No fasting or special preparations are needed.
You may feel a little sting when the needle is inserted and extracted but otherwise is a quick procedure. You may also experience bruising as well as mild soreness for a short amount of time after the blood extraction.
Infection is usually a small risk in healthy people; however, if you indeed have the virus, infections are more likely to appear. So you should keep your wound clean and dry.
Normally this test is indicated when a previous screening HIV test has been performed, and the result has come back positive.
Therefore, if this test comes back negative for HIV-1and HIV-2, it means that a disparity has occurred, and then a third test (HIV RNA) must be performed to get to a firm diagnosis.
If the HIV antibody test has come back positive, the possibilities include:
HIV-1 antibody positive + HIV-2 antibody negative: is confirmed that you have an HIV type 1 infection.
HIV-1 antibody negative + HIV-2 antibody positive: is confirmed that you have an HIV type 2 infection.
HIV-1 antibody positive + HIV-2 antibody positive: you have a co-infection with both types of HIV.
Human immunodeficiency virus antibodies, whether HIV-1 or HIV-2, are usually not detectable through a lab test between 6 weeks to 3 months after exposure to the virus; this is called the “window period” because even though you are infected there are not enough antibodies for the test to detect; therefore the results come back negative.
However, after 12 months human immunodeficiency virus antibodies are almost always detectable in a blood test.
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (11)
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
HIV. See a full animation of this medical topic
Image by BruceBlaus
HIV Drug Classes
Schematic description of the mechanism of the four classes of currently available antiviral drugs against HIV: fusion inhibitors ( interfere with the binding, fusion or entry of an HIV virion), reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (interfere with the translation of viral RNA into DNA), integrase inhibitors (block the viral enzyme integrase, that inserts the viral genome into the DNA of the host cell), protease inhibitors (block proteolytic cleavage of protein precursors that are necessary for the production of infectious viral particles).
Image by Thomas Splettstoesser (www.scistyle.com)
HIV-infected H9 T cell
Scanning electromicrograph of an HIV-infected H9 T cell. Credit: NIAID
Image by NIAID
HIV Virus
Transmission electron micrograph of HIV-1 virus particles (red) budding and replicating from a segment of a chronically infected H9 cell (blue). Particles are in various stages of maturity; arc/semi-circles are immature particles that have started to form but are still part of the cell. Immature particles slowly change morphology into mature forms and exhibit the classic “conical or spherical-shaped core.” Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID
Image by NIAID
HIV-1 Neurotropism
Model of HIV-1 Neurotropism
Image by J Roberto Trujillo
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
The most common test for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) detects antibodies produced by the immune system that attack foreign particles like HIV. These antibodies are identifiable because they are tailor-made to match specific features of the virus. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) enters the body through sexual transmission, blood transfusion with infected blood, or a shared needle contaminated by the blood of another person. The immune system responds to the presence of HIV by producing antibodies specifically directed against the virus (antibodies are identifiable because they are tailor-made to match specific features of the virus they attack). HIV antibodies can be detected between 3-8 weeks after exposure to the virus.
Image by TheVisualMD
(HIV) Ways in which you cannot catch the HIV virus
Ways in which you cannot catch the HIV virus Description : Ways in which you cannot catch the HIV virus from hugging to telephones; one of a series of fact sheets about AIDS and HIV.
Image by Wellcome Trust
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
AIDS Life Cycle Illustration
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-I) enters the T-lymphocyte where the virus loses its outer envelop, releasing its RNA and its reverse transcriptase. The reverse transcriptase builds a complimentary DNA strand from the viral RNA template. The DNA helix is inserted into the host genome. When this is transcribed by the infected cell, the new viral RNA and proteins are produced to form new viruses that then bud from the cell membrane, thus completing the life cycle of the virus. See artwork: GR-32.
Image by National Cancer Institute / Trudy Nicholson (Illustrator)
Medical Animation: HIV and AIDS
Video by Nucleus Medical Media/YouTube
When HIV Becomes AIDS (HIV #2)
Video by Healthguru/YouTube
HIV Rotation
The most common test for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) detects antibodies produced by the immune system that attack foreign particles like HIV. These antibodies are identifiable because they are tailor-made to match specific features of the virus. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) enters the body through sexual transmission, blood transfusion with infected blood, or, in the case of drug addicts, a shared needle contaminated by the blood of another user. HIV antibodies can be detected between 3-8 weeks after exposure to the virus.
Image by TheVisualMD
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
BruceBlaus
HIV Drug Classes
Thomas Splettstoesser (www.scistyle.com)
HIV-infected H9 T cell
NIAID
HIV Virus
NIAID
HIV-1 Neurotropism
J Roberto Trujillo
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
TheVisualMD
(HIV) Ways in which you cannot catch the HIV virus
Wellcome Trust
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
AIDS Life Cycle Illustration
National Cancer Institute / Trudy Nicholson (Illustrator)
6:52
Medical Animation: HIV and AIDS
Nucleus Medical Media/YouTube
3:52
When HIV Becomes AIDS (HIV #2)
Healthguru/YouTube
HIV Rotation
TheVisualMD
HIV Viral Load Test
HIV Viral Load Test
Also called: HIV by PCR, HIV RNA Test
An HIV viral load is a blood test that measures the amount of HIV in a sample of your blood. It can determine how well your HIV medicines are working. The main goal of HIV medicines is to reduce the HIV viral load to an "undetectable" level, meaning the lower your viral load, the better.
HIV Viral Load Test
Also called: HIV by PCR, HIV RNA Test
An HIV viral load is a blood test that measures the amount of HIV in a sample of your blood. It can determine how well your HIV medicines are working. The main goal of HIV medicines is to reduce the HIV viral load to an "undetectable" level, meaning the lower your viral load, the better.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
{copies}/mL
20
200
1000
100000
Your result is Undetectable.
An undetectable (not detected) or normal HIV viral load is generally considered to be less than 20 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood. This does not mean that there is no virus in your body — it just means that there is not enough for the test to find and count. HIV is still in the body and will rebound to detectable if HIV treatment is stopped.
Related conditions
HIV treatment adherence
An HIV viral load is a blood test that measures the amount of HIV in a sample of your blood. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. The test looks for genetic material from the virus in your blood. These tests are called molecular tests or nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT or NAT). There are several types of NAAT tests. A PCR test is one type of NAAT that may be used to find HIV.
HIV is a virus that destroys certain cells in your immune system. These cells protect your body against diseases from germs, such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi. If you lose too many immune cells, your body will have trouble fighting off infections and other diseases.
You can get HIV from contact with the blood of a person who has an HIV infection. This usually happens through sex or sharing needles or other equipment used to inject drugs.
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is the final, most serious stage of an HIV infection. Without treatment, the amount of HIV in your body can increase. It can gradually destroy your immune system and become AIDS. With AIDS, your body has trouble fighting off infections from germs that usually don't cause problems in healthy people. These are called opportunistic infections, and they can become life-threatening. AIDS increases your risk of developing certain cancers, too.
Most people with HIV don't have AIDS. If you have HIV, you can take HIV medicines that protect your immune system and help prevent you from getting AIDS. Medicines that treat HIV are called antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART can't get rid of HIV completely, so you'll need to take medicines for the rest of your life. But ART can control HIV and help you live a longer, healthier life.
Having regular HIV viral load tests is an important part of making sure your HIV medicines are keeping your viral load low, so you stay healthy.
Other names: nucleic acid testing, NAT, nucleic acid amplification test, NAAT, HIV PCR, RNA Test, HIV quantification
An HIV viral load test is mainly used after you're diagnosed with HIV to:
Guide decisions about your treatment
Check how well your HIV medicines are working
Watch for any changes in your HIV infection
HIV viral load testing is also used to test newborn babies when they are born to a person who has HIV. That's because HIV can be passed to a baby during pregnancy, childbirth, and through breast milk.
In certain cases, an HIV viral load test may be used to diagnose HIV. Usually, HIV screening tests are used first. That's because HIV viral load tests are expensive. But viral load tests can find HIV sooner after an infection than screening tests. So, your health care provider may order this test if your risk of having HIV is very high.
A viral load test is needed to guide treatment decisions. If you have HIV, you'll probably start taking HIV medicines soon after your diagnosis. But first, you'll need a viral load test to find out how much virus is in your blood. This information helps your provider choose the right medicines for you. Your first test result will be compared with later test results to see if the medicines are working.
A viral load test is needed to see how well treatment is working and to monitor your HIV infection. The goal of HIV treatment is to reduce the amount of virus in your blood until there's too little to show up on a test. You'll need to have regular viral load tests to see whether your viral load is dropping enough. HIV viral load tests are usually done:
Before you start taking medicine
About two to eight weeks after starting or changing HIV medicines
Every three to six months to monitor your infection when your treatment is working well
Your provider may order an HIV viral load test to diagnose HIV if:
You recently had a high-risk exposure to HIV. High-risk exposures include:
Having vaginal or anal sex with someone who has HIV or whose HIV status you don't know
Sharing needles, syringes, or other items used to inject drugs with other people
Exchanging sex for money or drugs
Having a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as syphilis
Having sex with anyone who has done anything listed above
You had a recent possible exposure to HIV, and you have early symptoms of HIV infection. The early stage of HIV doesn't always cause symptoms. When it does, they may include:
Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, aches
Extreme fatigue
Swollen lymph nodes (in your neck, groin, or armpit)
Rash
Sores in your mouth
If you think you were exposed to HIV, talk with your provider right away about getting tested. You may also be able to have emergency treatment to prevent HIV infection within the first 3 days after a possible exposure.
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for an HIV viral load. But if you are getting this test to find out if you are infected with HIV, you should talk with a counselor before or after your test so you can better understand the results and your treatment options.
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
If you have an HIV viral load test because you have HIV:
A negative or undetectable viral load means that you have so little HIV in your blood that the test can't find it. This means that your HIV medicines are working well to protect your immune system, and you are unlikely to spread HIV through sex. It does not mean you're cured. You must continue to take your medicines as prescribed to keep your HIV in control.
A low viral load means your medicine is stopping the virus from growing and your infection is unlikely to get worse.
A high viral load means the virus is growing and your treatment is not working well. The higher the viral load, the more risk you have for infections and diseases related to a weak immune system. It may also mean you have a higher risk for developing AIDS. If your results show a high viral load, your provider will probably change your medicines.
If you had an HIV viral load test to diagnose whether you have HIV:
A normal or negative result means that no HIV was found in your blood, and you are probably not infected with HIV.
A result that shows any amount of virus in your blood means you have an HIV infection. Your provider will likely order other tests, including a CD4 count, to see how much HIV has damaged your immune system.
If you have questions about your results, talk with your provider.
If you are living with HIV, you will have regular viral load tests to monitor your infection and treatment. It's best to have the same type of test done at the same lab if possible. That's because labs have different ways of measuring HIV viral load. Your provider needs to compare your test results over time to see if your viral load is going up or down, and different tests from different labs can be difficult to compare.
HIV Viral Load: MedlinePlus Lab Test Information [accessed on Aug 14, 2018]
HIV viral load (or 'HIV RNA'). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. [accessed on Oct 16, 2019]
550430: Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1),... | LabCorp [accessed on Oct 05, 2018]
HIV Viral Load [accessed on Oct 05, 2018]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (7)
#AskTheHIVDoc: What is viral load? (0:57)
Video by Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
#AskTheHIVDoc: What is a viral load blip? (0:57)
Video by Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
#AskTheHIVDoc: What if my viral load goes up? (1:00)
Video by Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
#AskTheHIVDoc: What happens when HIV enters the body? (0:47)
Video by Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
#AskTheHIVDoc: What is HIV undetectable? (0:47)
Video by Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
#AskTheHIVDoc: How long does it take to get to HIV undetectable? (1:13)
Video by Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
#AskTheHIVDoc: How do you know if you are HIV undetectable? (0:42)
Video by Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
0:58
#AskTheHIVDoc: What is viral load? (0:57)
Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
0:58
#AskTheHIVDoc: What is a viral load blip? (0:57)
Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
1:01
#AskTheHIVDoc: What if my viral load goes up? (1:00)
Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
0:48
#AskTheHIVDoc: What happens when HIV enters the body? (0:47)
Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
0:48
#AskTheHIVDoc: What is HIV undetectable? (0:47)
Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
1:13
#AskTheHIVDoc: How long does it take to get to HIV undetectable? (1:13)
Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
0:43
#AskTheHIVDoc: How do you know if you are HIV undetectable? (0:42)
Greater Than AIDS/YouTube
HIV Self-Test
HIV Self-Test
Also called: HIV Home Test, Home Access HIV-1 Test System, OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test
Home HIV screening kits test either a sample of oral fluid or a sample of blood that you get by pricking your finger. It is used to detect whether or not you have antibodies to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
HIV Self-Test
Also called: HIV Home Test, Home Access HIV-1 Test System, OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test
Home HIV screening kits test either a sample of oral fluid or a sample of blood that you get by pricking your finger. It is used to detect whether or not you have antibodies to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Negative.
If you test negative for HIV, it means you did not have antibodies to HIV at the time of the test. If you think you were exposed to the virus and might be infected, you should test yourself again in a few months.
Related conditions
This is a home-use collection kit to detect whether or not you have antibodies to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
This is a qualitative test -- you find out whether or not you have this infection, not how advanced your disease is.
You should do this test to find out if you have an HIV infection. If you know that you have an HIV infection,
you can obtain medical treatment that helps slow the course of the disease, and
you can take precautions to keep from infecting others.
Untreated, HIV destroys your immune system. The most advanced stage of HIV infection is AIDS, an often-fatal disease.
You should do this test if you believe there is a chance you may have an HIV infection. You are at greatest risk for HIV if you:
have ever shared injection drug needles and syringes or "works."
have ever had sex without a condom with someone who had HIV.
have ever had a sexually transmitted disease, like chlamydia or gonorrhea.
received a blood transfusion or a blood-clotting factor between 1978 and 1985.
have ever had sex with someone who has done any of those things
If you use this test, no one but you will know you were tested for HIV or what the results showed.
This test is similar to the test your doctor would use. Researchers have found that about 90 of 100 home users were able to obtain acceptable samples for sending to the laboratory. After the laboratory got these 90 samples, they could get results for about 81 of 100 of them. Of these 81 samples, the laboratory almost always shows whether or not the person tested had HIV infection.
If you test positive in this test, you are infected with the HIV virus. You should take precautions so you do not spread this infection to your sexual partners or others who might be at risk. You should not donate blood because this infection could spread to others. Having HIV infection does not necessarily mean you have AIDS. You should see your doctor so you can learn the status of your disease and decide what therapy, if any, you need.
If you test negative for HIV, it means you did not have antibodies to HIV at the time of the test. However, if you are newly infected, it will take time for you to make antibodies. It is uncertain how long it may take you to develop antibodies--it may take more than 3 months. So, although you may be infected, the results of your testing will not verify that you are infected for several months. If you think you were exposed to the virus and might be infected, you should test yourself again in a few months.
The test comes with sterile lancets, an alcohol pad, gauze pads, a blood specimen collection card, a bandage, a lancet disposal container, a shipping pouch, and instructions. To do the test, you
call a specified telephone number,
register a code number that is included with the specimen collection kit,
prick your finger with a lancet to get a drop of blood,
place drops of blood on the card,
send the shipping pouch by express courier service to the central testing laboratory,
receive results by phone after 3-7 business days later, and
if you test positive for HIV, you get counseling on what to do about your infection.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Home Use Tests. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [accessed on Nov 16, 2018]
HIV Home Test Kits. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [accessed on Nov 16, 2018]
Information regarding the Home Access HIV-1 Test System. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [accessed on Dec 10, 2018]
HIV Testing. Home Tests. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [accessed on Nov 16, 2018]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (8)
OraQuick In-Home HIV Test Kit
The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test Kit is a do-it-yourself rapid home-use HIV test kit provides results in 20-40 minutes and does not require sending a sample to a laboratory for analysis.
Image by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
OraQuick HIV test
Image by Marcello Casal JR/ABr/Wikimedia
HIV test
OraQuick HIV test: OraQuick Advance Hiv-1/2 Rapid Test
Image by Marcello Casal JR/ABr
HIV Virus and Rapid Test
The only way to know if a person has been infected with HIV is to get tested. Because knowing your HIV status can mean the difference between living with HIV and dying from HIV.
Image by Marcello Casal JR/ABr/madartzgraphics/Pixabay
HIV testing - because knowing is half the battle
In 2020, there was a 50% decline in the number of people getting tested for HIV in the US – resulting in an increase in people who are unknowingly HIV-positive.
Image by StoryMD/Marcello Casal JR/ABr/Pixabay
What you need to know about HIV testing
Video by Science Animated/YouTube
A step-by-step guide to the OraQuick HIV self-test
Video by Science Animated/YouTube
FDA has approved Home HIV Test Kit
Video by CNN/YouTube
OraQuick In-Home HIV Test Kit
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
OraQuick HIV test
Marcello Casal JR/ABr/Wikimedia
HIV test
Marcello Casal JR/ABr
HIV Virus and Rapid Test
Marcello Casal JR/ABr/madartzgraphics/Pixabay
HIV testing - because knowing is half the battle
StoryMD/Marcello Casal JR/ABr/Pixabay
1:47
What you need to know about HIV testing
Science Animated/YouTube
1:32
A step-by-step guide to the OraQuick HIV self-test
Science Animated/YouTube
1:42
FDA has approved Home HIV Test Kit
CNN/YouTube
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Test
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Test
Also called: ESR, Westergren sedimentation rate
An erythrocyte sedimentation rate measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a test tube. It can help detect inflammation in the body.
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Test
Also called: ESR, Westergren sedimentation rate
An erythrocyte sedimentation rate measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a test tube. It can help detect inflammation in the body.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
mm/h
5
22
40
Your result is Normal.
Normal results vary based on the laboratory and the method used.
Related conditions
An erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a type of blood test that measures how quickly erythrocytes (red blood cells) settle at the bottom of a test tube that contains a blood sample. Normally, red blood cells settle relatively slowly. A faster-than-normal rate may indicate inflammation in the body. Inflammation is part of your immune response system. It can be a reaction to an infection or injury. Inflammation may also be a sign of a chronic disease, an immune disorder, or other medical condition.
An ESR test can help determine if you have a condition that causes inflammation. These include arthritis, vasculitis, or inflammatory bowel disease. An ESR may also be used to monitor an existing condition.
Your health care provider may order an ESR if you have symptoms of an inflammatory disorder. These include:
Headaches
Fever
Weight loss
Joint stiffness
Neck or shoulder pain
Loss of appetite
Anemia
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
You don't need any special preparations for this test.
There is very little risk to having an ESR. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
If your ESR is high, it may be related to an inflammatory condition, such as:
Infection
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatic fever
Vascular disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Heart disease
Kidney disease
Certain cancers
Sometimes the ESR can be slower than normal. A slow ESR may indicate a blood disorder, such as:
Polycythemia
Sickle cell anemia
Leukocytosis, an abnormal increase in white blood cells
If your results are not in the normal range, it doesn't necessarily mean you have a medical condition that requires treatment. A moderate ESR may indicate pregnancy, menstruation, or anemia, rather than an inflammatory disease. Certain medicines and supplements can also affect your results. These include oral contraceptives, aspirin, cortisone, and vitamin A. Be sure to tell your health care provider about any drugs or supplements you are taking.
An ESR does not specifically diagnose any diseases, but it can provide information about whether or not there is inflammation in your body. If your ESR results are abnormal, your health care provider will need more information and will likely order more lab tests before making a diagnosis.
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (6)
This browser does not support the video element.
What Is Inflammation?
Inflammation is the body's response to damage. It takes many forms. Chronic inflammation is common in overweight and obese people, because their fat cells manufacture damaging substances that trigger a reaction from the immune system's white blood cells. Keeping track of a key biomarker for inflammation, C-reactive Protein or CRP, helps doctors determine whether an overweight patient is at risk for such conditions as heart disease, dementia, diabetes, cancers, and more.
Video by TheVisualMD
Asthma - Inflammation in the Airways
Asthma is a condition in which the airways of your lungs are chronically inflamed. Allergens or other triggers can cause the smooth muscle tissue that surrounds your airways to constrict (narrow). These triggers can also prompt an inflammatory response from the immune cells that line your airways, causing them to release an excessive amount of mucus. The constriction and the mucus narrow your airways, creating symptoms that can include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness.
Image by TheVisualMD
Mast Cell
Mast cells produce histamine. Histamine is known for its role in inflammation. It affects a variety of behavior patterns including the sleep-wake cycle and food intake. Antihistamines may work at odds with inflammation and depression.
Image by TheVisualMD
Subsiding Inflammation in blood vessels
Monocytes, having matured into macrophages continue to destroy pathogens and cellular debris by ingesting them, while the inflammation process begins to subside.
Image by TheVisualMD
Basophil
Visualization of a basophil. A type of leukocyte (white blood cell) responsible for combating infection.
Image by TheVisualMD
erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Westergren pipettes in automated StaRRsed ESR analyzer
Image by MechESR
1:57
What Is Inflammation?
TheVisualMD
Asthma - Inflammation in the Airways
TheVisualMD
Mast Cell
TheVisualMD
Subsiding Inflammation in blood vessels
TheVisualMD
Basophil
TheVisualMD
erythrocyte sedimentation rate
MechESR
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Also called: SLNB, Biopsy of the Sentinel Lymph Node, Lymph Node Biopsy, Sentinel Node Biopsy, Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping and Biopsy
A sentinel lymph node biopsy is a test that checks lymph nodes for cancer cells. Some cancers, such as breast cancer and melanoma, can spread through the lymphatic system. The sentinel lymph node is the first node where a cancer usually spreads. The test can show whether your cancer is likely to spread.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Also called: SLNB, Biopsy of the Sentinel Lymph Node, Lymph Node Biopsy, Sentinel Node Biopsy, Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping and Biopsy
A sentinel lymph node biopsy is a test that checks lymph nodes for cancer cells. Some cancers, such as breast cancer and melanoma, can spread through the lymphatic system. The sentinel lymph node is the first node where a cancer usually spreads. The test can show whether your cancer is likely to spread.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Negative.
If your results are negative, it means no cancer cells were found, and it's unlikely that the cancer has spread. You will not need to have any more lymph nodes removed.
Related conditions
Breast cancer
Melanoma
Penile cancer
Endometrial cancer
A sentinel lymph node biopsy is a test that checks lymph nodes for cancer cells. Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system, a network of organs and vessels that help the body fight infections and other diseases. Lymph nodes are located throughout the body, including the underarms, neck, chest, abdomen, and groin.
Certain cancers, such as breast cancer and melanoma (the most dangerous form of skin cancer), can spread through the lymphatic system. Cancers spread when cells break off from the original tumor and are carried to other parts of the body. The sentinel lymph node is the first node where these types of cancers are most likely to spread. The node is usually located near the site of the original tumor. Sometimes there is more than one sentinel lymph node.
A sentinel lymph node biopsy can show how likely it is that your cancer is spreading (metastasizing).
Other names: lymph node biopsy, sentinel node biopsy, sentinel lymph node mapping and biopsy
A sentinel lymph node biopsy is used to find out whether an early-stage cancer has spread through the lymphatic system. It's most often used for people who have breast cancer or melanoma.
You may need this test if you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, melanoma, or certain other types of cancer. It can show whether your cancer is spreading.
A sentinel lymph node biopsy may be done in a hospital or an outpatient surgical center. The procedure usually includes a special type of imaging test called lymphoscintigraphy. Lymphoscintigraphy takes pictures of the lymphatic system and is used to locate the sentinel lymph node. The procedure includes the following steps:
A health care provider will apply medicine to numb the skin over the procedure area.
You will be injected with a small amount of a radioactive substance called a tracer near the tumor. The tracer will travel and collect in the sentinel lymph node, or nodes. You may also be injected with a blue dye that stains the lymph node, making it easier to see.
You will be given general anesthesia. General anesthesia is a medicine that makes you unconscious. It makes sure you won't feel any pain during the surgery. A specially trained doctor called an anesthesiologist will give you this medicine.
Once you're unconscious, a camera will take images of the area. The camera finds and records the location of the tracer, which will have settled in the sentinel node.
The node will be removed and sent to a lab, where it will be checked for cancer cells. This part of the test is known as a biopsy.
The original tumor is also usually removed during the procedure.
You will probably need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. You may also need to stop taking blood thinners, such as aspirin, for a certain time before your test. Your provider will let you know when you need to stop taking your medicine and anything else you need to do to prepare for the test.
In addition, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home. You may be groggy and confused after you wake up from the procedure.
You may have a little bleeding, pain, or bruising at the biopsy site. There is also a small risk of infection, which can be treated with antibiotics. Allergic reactions to the tracer are rare and usually mild.
There is very little exposure to radiation in a sentinel lymph node biopsy. While radiation exposure from the tracer in a sentinel lymph node biopsy is safe for most adults, it can be harmful to an unborn baby. So be sure to tell your provider if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
The results will be given as positive or negative.
If your results are positive, it means cancer was found and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes and/or other organs. Your provider may recommend removing and testing more lymph nodes to check for cancer cells.
If your results are negative, it means no cancer cells were found, and it's unlikely that the cancer has spread. You will not need to have any more lymph nodes removed.
If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.
While sentinel lymph node biopsies are mostly used for people with breast cancer or melanoma, it is currently being studied for use with other types of cancer, including:
Colon cancer
Stomach cancer
Thyroid cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Feb 03, 2024]
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy - NCI. National Cancer Institute. Jun 25, 2019 [accessed on Feb 03, 2024]
Melanoma: Tests After Diagnosis - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center [accessed on Feb 03, 2024]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (50)
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy of the Breast
Sentinel lymph node biopsy of the breast. The first of three panels shows a radioactive substance and/or blue dye injected near the tumor; the middle panel shows that the injected material is followed visually and/or with a probe that detects radioactivity to find the sentinel nodes (the first lymph nodes to take up the material); the third panel shows the removal of the tumor and the sentinel nodes to check for cancer cells.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy of the breast. A radioactive substance and/or blue dye is injected near the tumor (first panel). The injected material is detected visually and/or with a probe that detects radioactivity (middle panel). The sentinel nodes (the first lymph nodes to take up the material) are removed and checked for cancer cells (last panel).
Sentinel Lymph Node & Axillary Lymph Node Procedures for Breast Cancer - Mayo Clinic
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Surgery for Melanoma Patients: Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Complete Lymph Node Dissection
Video by American Cancer Society/YouTube
Sentinel Node Biopsy: Breast Cancer Lymph Node Surgery
Video by Breast Cancer School for Patients/YouTube
Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping for Gynecologic Cancers
Video by Memorial Sloan Kettering/YouTube
Introduction to the Lymphatic System
Video by Osmosis/YouTube
Lymphatic System, Part 2
Video by Tammy Moore/YouTube
The Lymphatic System, Part 1
Video by Tammy Moore/YouTube
The lymphatic system's role in immunity | Lymphatic system physiology | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
lymphatic system
Diagram of the lymphatic system.
Image by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
Lymphatic System
Lymphatic System
Image by NIH
Lymph Node of Head and Neck
3D visualization reconstructed from scanned human data of male revealing lymphatic structures (lacrimal glands, tonsils, salivary glands, thymus, subclavian veins axillary nodes, stomach, cisterna chyli). The lymphatic system works in concert with the immune system. It can be described as an extensive network of vessels that shuttle molecular waste-filled fluid (lymph) through purifiying centers called lymph nodes.
Image by TheVisualMD
Lymphatic, circulatory and nervous systems
The systems of the human body consist of: circulatory, digestive, endocrine, immune/lymphatic, integumentary, muscular, reproductive, skeletal, urinary. This image depicts the circulatory, endocrine, immune/lymphatic, nervous
Image by TheVisualMD
Babies Sitting Showing Respiratory Lymphatic Circulatory and Skeletal Systems
One of the most obvious ways that we notice the overall immune health of a baby is through the presence or absence of respiratory infections. Respiratory illness is the leading cause of hospitalization among young children. Lymph nodes and vessels are a direct component of the immune system. Lymph nodes are encapsulated bundles of lymph tissue found throughout the body especially in the neck, axillae, groin, and thoracic regions. Lymph tissue aids the immune system by collecting and breaking down toxins and other waste products of the body. Lymph vessels transport lymph, a clear fluid derived from intercellular spaces around the body, eventually back into the blood. An infant's circulatory system will face an olympian job over the course of the individual's lifetime; the heart will beat 2.5 billion times and pump millions of gallons of blood through the body's vast network of arteries and veins. An infant's heart doubles in size the first year of life. Nutrition plays a key role in the development and maintenance of a healthy circulatory system by providing building blocks such as iron needed for red blood cell production.
Image by TheVisualMD
Lymphatic System
Lymphatic Trunks and Ducts System
Image by OpenStax College
Babies Sitting Showing Respiratory Lymphatic Circulatory and Skeletal Systems
One of the most obvious ways that we notice the overall immune health of a baby is through the presence or absence of respiratory infections. Respiratory illness is the leading cause of hospitalization among young children. Lymph nodes and vessels are a direct component of the immune system. Lymph nodes are encapsulated bundles of lymph tissue found throughout the body especially in the neck, axillae, groin, and thoracic regions. Lymph tissue aids the immune system by collecting and breaking down toxins and other waste products of the body. Lymph vessels transport lymph, a clear fluid derived from intercellular spaces around the body, eventually back into the blood. An infant's circulatory system will face an olympian job over the course of the individual's lifetime; the heart will beat 2.5 billion times and pump millions of gallons of blood through the body's vast network of arteries and veins. An infant's heart doubles in size the first year of life. Nutrition plays a key role in the development and maintenance of a healthy circulatory system by providing building blocks such as iron, needed for red blood cell production.
Image by TheVisualMD
In Defense of You: Your Immune System
Image by TheVisualMD
Lymph Node and Lymph interstitial fluid
Lymph Node and Vasculature: The image shows a human lymph node and its vasculature (blood vessels). Lymph nodes are encapsulated bundles of lymph tissue found throughout the body, especially in the neck, armpit, groin, lung, and aortic areas. These aggregations of lymph tissue aid the immunological system by collecting and breaking down toxins and other waste products of the body.
Image by TheVisualMD
Lymph Node with Vasculature
Computer generated illustration of a human lymph node and its vasculature. Lymph nodes are encapsulated bundles of lymph tissue found throughout the body especially in the neck, axillae, groin, lung and aortic areas. These aggregations of lymph tissue aid the immunological system by collecting and breaking down toxins and other waste products of the body.
Image by TheVisualMD
Immune System and Autoimmune Diseases
Normally, an individual's immune system learns to identify and ignore all of the distinctive little structures found on that individual's own cells. Sometimes, however, it will make a mistake and identify its own body as foreign. If that happens, the immune system produces antibodies that attempt to destroy the body's own cells in the same way it would try to destroy a foreign invader.
Lymph Node Biopsy : When breast cancer spreads beyond the primary tumor site, it usually spreads first to the sentinel lymph node or nodes, the first lymph nodes to receive drainage from a cancer-containing area of the breast. From there, breast cancer generally spreads to the axillary lymph nodes under the arm. So an important part of the breast cancer staging process is to determine whether the cancer has spread from the primary tumor to the sentinel lymph node, and from there into the axillary lymph nodes.
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Lymph Node Biopsy
Lymph Node Biopsy : When breast cancer spreads beyond the primary tumor site, it usually spreads first to the sentinel lymph node or nodes, the first lymph nodes to receive drainage from a cancer-containing area of the breast. From there, breast cancer generally spreads to the axillary lymph nodes under the arm. So an important part of the breast cancer staging process is to determine whether the cancer has spread from the primary tumor to the sentinel lymph node, and from there into the axillary lymph nodes.
Image by TheVisualMD
Lymph Node Biopsy
Lymph Node Biopsy : When breast cancer spreads beyond the primary tumor site, it usually spreads first to the sentinel lymph node or nodes, the first lymph nodes to receive drainage from a cancer-containing area of the breast. From there, breast cancer generally spreads to the axillary lymph nodes under the arm. So an important part of the breast cancer staging process is to determine whether the cancer has spread from the primary tumor to the sentinel lymph node, and from there into the axillary lymph nodes.
Image by TheVisualMD
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
This is a picture of the first radio-guided sentinel lymph node biopsy using real-time imaging by means of a portable gamma camera (Sentinella) in a patient with colon cancer
The lobes and ducts of the breast, and nearby lymph nodes (above) are areas that cancer can attack. The temporary inconvenience of a mammogram can save you from troublesome and costly treatment and surgery by catching breast cancer early, when it is easiest to treat.
Image by NIH
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Breast Cancer Surgery
Breast surgeon Dr. Nora Jaskowiak of The University of Chicago Medical Center explains how far mastectomies and other breast surgeries have come and the impact on the patient's life.
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Mastectomy (Simple)
Title Mastectomy (Simple) Description Treatment for breast cancer - removal of breast and a sample of underarm lymph nodes.
Image by National Cancer Institute / Linda Bartlett (Photographer)
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Mastectomy
Total (simple) Mastectomy Description Total (simple) mastectomy; drawing shows removal of the breast and lymph nodes. The dotted line shows where the entire breast is removed. Some lymph nodes under the arm may also be removed.
Image by National Cancer Institute
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Radical Mastectomy
Mastectomy (Radical) Description Halsted radical mastectomy. Removal of the entire breast and chest muscles, as well as lymph nodes in underarm area for the treatment of breast cancer.
Image by National Cancer Institute / Linda Bartlett (Photographer)
Front view of the breast
Diagram showing the front view of the breast.
Image by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Side view of the breast
Diagram showing the side view of the breast.
Image by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Breast and adjacent lymph nodes
Illustration of Breast and Adjacent Lymph Nodes Description: The female breast along with lymph nodes and vessels. An inset shows a close-up view of the breast with the following parts labeled: lobules, lobe, ducts, nipple, areola, and fat.
Image by National Cancer Institute, Don Bliss (Illustrator)
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Breast and Adjacent Lymph Nodes
The female breast (nipple, areola, ducts, lobes, lobules, and fatty tissue) and adjacent lymph nodes and lymph vessels (no labels appear in the illustration).
Image by National Cancer Institute (NCI) / Don Bliss (Illustrator)
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Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2): Aggressive Breast Cancers
Most breast cancers begin in the lobules or ducts of the breast, which produce breast milk and carry it to the nipples after pregnancy. Invasive cancers spread outside of the lobules and ducts and penetrate into the surrounding breast tissue. From there, cancer cells may travel to lymph nodes in the armpit area. In stage IV breast cancer, cancer cells have spread into other parts of the body, such as the lungs or bones. HER2-positive breast cancer is aggressive and is likely to spread quickly. It is also resistant to hormone therapy. However, treatment with the drugs trastuzumab and/or lapatinib may help women who test positive for HER2.
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Metastatic Breast Cancer in Pleural Fluid
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Diagram showing the network of lymph nodes in and around the breast.
Diagram showing the network of lymph nodes in and around the breast.
Image by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
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Breast lobes and ducts
Diagram showing the lobes and ducts of a breast.
Image by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
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Breast
Breast and Adjacent Lymph Nodes Description The female breast along with lymph nodes and vessels. An inset shows a close-up view of the breast with the following parts labeled: lobules, lobe, ducts, nipple, areola, and fat.
Image by National Cancer Institute
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Breast Anatomy
Breast Anatomy; observe lobes, lobules, ducts, areola, nipple, fat, lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels.
Image by National Cancer Institute / Don Bliss (Illustrator)
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External and Internal Anatomy of Breast
The breast is made up of a variety of tissues and structures, including fat, blood vessels, lymph vessels, ligaments, and nerves. The mammary gland is embedded in the breast's fatty tissue and contains 15-20 lobes, each of which is subdivided into smaller lobules. The breast milk that is produced drains from the lobes into the nipple via the lactiferous ducts.
Image by TheVisualMD
Lymph Nodes
Lymph Nodes
Lymph Nodes
Lymph Nodes
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Breast Lymph Nodes
Lymph vessels form a network in each breast, draining into lymph nodes in the underarm and along the breast bone. Cancer cells may break away from the main tumor and spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system.
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy of the Breast
Sentinel lymph node biopsy of the breast. The first of three panels shows a radioactive substance and/or blue dye injected near the tumor; the middle panel shows that the injected material is followed visually and/or with a probe that detects radioactivity to find the sentinel nodes (the first lymph nodes to take up the material); the third panel shows the removal of the tumor and the sentinel nodes to check for cancer cells.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy of the breast. A radioactive substance and/or blue dye is injected near the tumor (first panel). The injected material is detected visually and/or with a probe that detects radioactivity (middle panel). The sentinel nodes (the first lymph nodes to take up the material) are removed and checked for cancer cells (last panel).
Also called: Lymphocyte Subtyping, Lymphocyte Immunophenotyping, Immunophenotype Profile
Immunophenotyping is a test that detects the presence or absence of white blood cell (WBC) antigens in a sample of blood, bone marrow or lymph node cells. The test is used in basic research and to help diagnose and classify diseases, such as specific types of leukemia and lymphoma.
Immunophenotyping Test
Also called: Lymphocyte Subtyping, Lymphocyte Immunophenotyping, Immunophenotype Profile
Immunophenotyping is a test that detects the presence or absence of white blood cell (WBC) antigens in a sample of blood, bone marrow or lymph node cells. The test is used in basic research and to help diagnose and classify diseases, such as specific types of leukemia and lymphoma.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Normal.
No significant immunophenotypic abnormality detected.
Related conditions
Immunophenotyping | NCI's Dictionary of Cancer Terms [accessed on Feb 19, 2022]
Blood Work | How This Provides Clues On Your Health | Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) [accessed on Feb 18, 2022]
Immunophenotyping | Labcorp [accessed on Feb 19, 2022]
480260: Leukemia/Lymphoma Immunophenotyping Profile | Labcorp [accessed on Feb 19, 2022]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (3)
Burkitts lymphoma
Burkitt's lymphoma histology image
Image by Ed Uthman, MD.
Immunophenotyping | Flow Cytometry & Immunophenotyping Test |
Video by BMH learning/YouTube
Immunophenotyping made easy: streamline your bench
Video by Miltenyi Biotec/YouTube
Burkitts lymphoma
Ed Uthman, MD.
2:21
Immunophenotyping | Flow Cytometry & Immunophenotyping Test |
BMH learning/YouTube
1:51
Immunophenotyping made easy: streamline your bench
Interactive by Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
Stages of Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma
KEY POINTS
After adult Hodgkin lymphoma has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the lymph system or to other parts of the body.
There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body.
The following stages are used for adult Hodgkin lymphoma:
Stage I
Stage II
Stage III
Stage IV
Adult Hodgkin lymphoma may be grouped for treatment as follows:
Early Favorable
Early Unfavorable
Advanced
Adult Hodgkin lymphoma can recur (come back) after it has been treated.
After adult Hodgkin lymphoma has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the lymph system or to other parts of the body.
The process used to find out if cancer has spread within the lymph system or to other parts of the body is called staging. The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know the stage to plan treatment. The results of the tests and procedures done to diagnose and stage Hodgkin lymphoma are used to help make decisions about treatment.
There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body.
Cancer can spread through tissue, the lymph system, and the blood:
Tissue. The cancer spreads from where it began by growing into nearby areas.
Lymph system. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the lymph system. The cancer travels through the lymph vessels to other parts of the body.
Blood. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the blood. The cancer travels through the blood vessels to other parts of the body.
The following stages are used for adult Hodgkin lymphoma:
Stage I
Stage I adult lymphoma. Cancer is found in one or more lymph nodes in a group of lymph nodes or, in rare cases, cancer is found in the Waldeyer’s ring, thymus, or spleen. In stage IE (not shown), cancer has spread to one area outside the lymph system.
Stage I adult Hodgkin lymphoma is divided into stages I and IE.
In stage I, cancer is found in one of the following places in the lymph system:
One or more lymph nodes in a group of lymph nodes.
Waldeyer's ring.
Thymus.
Spleen.
In stage IE, cancer is found in one area outside the lymph system.
Stage II
Stage II adult Hodgkin lymphoma is divided into stages II and IIE.
In stage II, cancer is found in two or more groups of lymph nodes that are either above the diaphragm or below the diaphragm.
Stage II adult lymphoma. Cancer is found in two or more groups of lymph nodes that are either above the diaphragm or below the diaphragm.
In stage IIE, cancer has spread from a group of lymph nodes to a nearby area that is outside the lymph system. Cancer may have spread to other lymph node groups on the same side of the diaphragm.Stage IIE adult lymphoma. Cancer has spread from a group of lymph nodes to a nearby area that is outside the lymph system. Cancer may have spread to other lymph node groups on the same side of the diaphragm.
In stage II, the term bulky disease refers to a larger tumor mass. The size of the tumor mass that is referred to as bulky disease varies based on the type of lymphoma.
Stage III
Stage III adult lymphoma. Cancer is found in groups of lymph nodes both above and below the diaphragm; or in a group of lymph nodes above the diaphragm and in the spleen.
In stage III adult Hodgkin lymphoma, cancer is found:
in groups of lymph nodes both above and below the diaphragm; or
in lymph nodes above the diaphragm and in the spleen.
Stage IV
Stage IV adult lymphoma. Cancer (a) has spread throughout one or more organs outside the lymph system; or (b) is found in two or more groups of lymph nodes that are either above the diaphragm or below the diaphragm and in one organ that is outside the lymph system and not near the affected lymph nodes; or (c) is found in groups of lymph nodes above the diaphragm and below the diaphragm and in any organ that is outside the lymph system; or (d) is found in the liver, bone marrow, more than one place in the lung, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The cancer has not spread directly into the liver, bone marrow, lung, or CSF from nearby lymph nodes.
In stage IV adult Hodgkin lymphoma, cancer:
has spread throughout one or more organs outside the lymph system; or
is found in two or more groups of lymph nodes that are either above the diaphragm or below the diaphragm and in one organ that is outside the lymph system and not near the affected lymph nodes; or
is found in groups of lymph nodes both above and below the diaphragm and in any organ that is outside the lymph system; or
is found in the liver, bone marrow, more than one place in the lung, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The cancer has not spread directly into the liver, bone marrow, lung, or CSF from nearby lymph nodes.
Adult Hodgkin lymphoma may be grouped for treatment as follows:
Early Favorable
Early favorable adult Hodgkin lymphoma is stage I or stage II, without risk factors that increase the chance that the cancer will come back after it is treated.
Early Unfavorable
Early unfavorable adult Hodgkin lymphoma is stage I or stage II with one or more of the following risk factorsthat increase the chance that the cancer will come back after it is treated:
Having a tumor in the chest that is larger than 1/3 of the width of the chest or is at least 10 centimeters.
Having cancer in an organ other than the lymph nodes.
Having a high sedimentation rate (in a sample of blood, the red blood cells settle to the bottom of the test tube more quickly than normal).
Having three or more lymph nodes with cancer.
Having B symptoms (fever for no known reason, weight loss for no known reason, or drenching night sweats).
Advanced
Advanced Hodgkin lymphoma is stage III or stage IV. Advanced favorable Hodgkin lymphoma means that the patient has 0–3 of the risk factors below. Advanced unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma means that the patient has 4 or more of the risk factors below. The more risk factors a patient has, the more likely it is that the cancer will come back after it is treated:
Having a low blood albumin (protein) level (below 4).
Having a low hemoglobin level (below 10.5).
Being male.
Being aged 45 years or older.
Having stage IV disease.
Having a high white blood cell count (15,000 or higher).
Having a low lymphocyte count (below 600 or less than 8% of the white blood cell count).
Adult Hodgkin lymphoma can recur (come back) after it has been treated.
The cancer may come back in the lymph system or in other parts of the body.
Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Additional Materials (3)
If someone close to you has Hodgkin lymphoma or high-grade non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A film for children
Video by Lymphoma Action/YouTube
Lymphoma Staging
Video by Cancer GPS/YouTube
The Stages of Lymphoma
Video by Lymphoma Cancer Treatment NY - Weill Cornell/YouTube
4:35
If someone close to you has Hodgkin lymphoma or high-grade non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A film for children
Lymphoma Action/YouTube
1:38
Lymphoma Staging
Cancer GPS/YouTube
1:27
The Stages of Lymphoma
Lymphoma Cancer Treatment NY - Weill Cornell/YouTube
Treatment
Genomic information
Image by NHS HEE Genomics Education Programme
Genomic information
This image was created by the NHS HEE Genomics Education Programme. For further information and resources please visit our website www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk
Image by NHS HEE Genomics Education Programme
Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment Option Overview
KEY POINTS
There are different types of treatment for patients with adult Hodgkin lymphoma.
Patients with Hodgkin lymphoma should have their treatment planned by a team of health care providers with expertise in treating lymphomas.
Treatment for adult Hodgkin lymphoma may cause side effects.
Four types of standard treatment are used:
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
Targeted therapy
Immunotherapy
For patients with nodular lymphocyte–predominant HL (NLPHL), treatment options also include:
Watchful waiting
Active surveillance
For pregnant patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, treatment options also include:
Watchful waiting
Steroid therapy
New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials.
Chemotherapy with stem cell transplant
Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial.
Patients can enter clinical trials before, during, or after starting their cancer treatment.
Follow-up tests may be needed.
There are different types of treatment for patients with adult Hodgkin lymphoma.
Different types of treatment are available for patients with adult Hodgkin lymphoma. Some treatments are standard (currently used treatment), and some are being tested in clinical trials. A treatment clinical trial is a research study meant to help improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for patients with cancer. When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better than the standard treatment, the new treatment may become the standard treatment. Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. Some clinical trials are open only to patients who have not started treatment.
For pregnant women with Hodgkin lymphoma, treatment is carefully chosen to protect the unborn baby. Treatment decisions are based on the mother’s wishes, the stage of the Hodgkin lymphoma, and the age of the unborn baby. The treatment plan may change as the signs and symptoms, cancer, and pregnancy change. Choosing the most appropriate cancer treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, family, and health care team.
Patients with Hodgkin lymphoma should have their treatment planned by a team of health care providers with expertise in treating lymphomas.
Treatment will be overseen by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer. The medical oncologist may refer you to other health care providers who have experience and expertise in treating adult Hodgkin lymphoma and who specialize in certain areas of medicine. These may include the following specialists:
Radiation oncologist.
Rehabilitation specialist.
Hematologist.
Other oncology specialists.
Treatment for adult Hodgkin lymphoma may cause side effects.
Side effects from cancer treatment that begin after treatment and continue for months or years are called late effects. Treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma may increase the risk of second cancers and other health problems for many months or years after treatment. These late effects depend on the type of treatment and the patient's age when treated, and may include the following:
Second cancers.
Acute myelogenous leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Solid tumors, such as mesothelioma and cancer of the lung, breast, thyroid, bone, soft tissue, stomach, esophagus, colon, rectum, cervix, and head and neck.
Infertility.
Hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone in the blood).
Heart disease, such as heart attack.
Lung problems, such as trouble breathing.
Avascular necrosis of bone (death of bone cells caused by lack of blood flow).
Severe infection.
Chronic fatigue.
Regular follow-up by doctors who are experts in finding and treating late effects is important for the long-term health of patients treated for Hodgkin lymphoma.
Four types of standard treatment are used:
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses one or more drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Cancer treatment using more than one chemotherapy drug is called combination chemotherapy. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy).
When a pregnant woman is treated with chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma, it isn't possible to protect the unborn baby from being exposed to the chemotherapy. Some chemotherapy regimens may cause birth defects if given in the first trimester. Vinblastine is an anticancer drug that has not been linked with birth defects when given in the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the area of the body with cancer. Sometimes total-body irradiation is given before a stem cell transplant.
Proton beam radiation therapy is a type of high-energy, external radiation therapy that uses streams of protons (tiny particles with a positive charge) to kill tumor cells. This type of treatment can lower the amount of radiation damage to healthy tissue near a tumor such as the heart or breast.
External radiation therapy is used to treat adult Hodgkin lymphoma and may also be used as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
For a pregnant woman with Hodgkin lymphoma, radiation therapy should be postponed until after delivery, if possible, to avoid any risk of radiation exposure to the unborn baby. If treatment is needed right away, the woman may decide to continue the pregnancy and receive radiation therapy. A lead shield is used to cover the pregnant woman's abdomen to help protect the unborn baby from radiation as much as possible.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific cancer cells. Targeted therapies usually cause less harm to normal cells than chemotherapy or radiation therapy do.
Monoclonal antibodies: Monoclonal antibodies are immune system proteins made in the laboratory to treat many diseases, including cancer. As a cancer treatment, these antibodies can attach to a specific target on cancer cells or other cells that may help cancer cells grow. The antibodies are able to then kill the cancer cells, block their growth, or keep them from spreading. Monoclonal antibodies are given by infusion. They may be used alone or to carry drugs, toxins, or radioactive material directly to cancer cells. Brentuximab and rituximab are monoclonal antibodies used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the patient's immune system to fight cancer. Substances made by the body or made in a laboratory are used to boost, direct, or restore the body's natural defenses against cancer. This cancer treatment is a type of biologic therapy.
PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitor therapy: PD-1 is a protein on the surface of T cells that helps keep the body's immune responses in check. PD-L1 is a protein found on some types of cancer cells. When PD-1 attaches to PD-L1, it stops the T cell from killing the cancer cell. PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors keep PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins from attaching to each other. This allows the T cells to kill cancer cells. Nivolumab and pembrolizumab are types of PD-1 inhibitors used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma that has recurred (come back).
Immune checkpoint inhibitor. Checkpoint proteins, such as PD-L1 on tumor cells and PD-1 on T cells, help keep immune responses in check. The binding of PD-L1 to PD-1 keeps T cells from killing tumor cells in the body (left panel). Blocking the binding of PD-L1 to PD-1 with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (anti-PD-L1 or anti-PD-1) allows the T cells to kill tumor cells (right panel).
For patients with nodular lymphocyte–predominant HL (NLPHL), treatment options also include:
Watchful waiting
Watchful waiting is closely monitoring a patient’s condition without giving any treatment until signs or symptoms appear or change.
Active surveillance
Active surveillance is a treatment plan that involves closely watching a patient’s condition but not giving any treatment unless there are changes in test results that show the condition is getting worse. During active surveillance, certain exams and tests are done on a regular schedule.
For pregnant patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, treatment options also include:
Watchful waiting
Watchful waiting is closely monitoring a patient’s condition without giving any treatment unless signs or symptoms appear or change. Labor may be induced when the unborn baby is 32 to 36 weeks old so that the mother can begin treatment.
Steroid therapy
Steroids are hormones made naturally in the body by the adrenal glands and by reproductive organs. Some types of steroids are made in a laboratory. Certain steroid drugs have been found to help chemotherapy work better and help stop the growth of cancer cells. When an early delivery is likely, steroids can also help the lungs of the unborn baby develop faster than normal. This gives babies who are born early a better chance of survival.
See Drugs Approved for Hodgkin Lymphoma for more information.
New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials.
This summary section describes treatments that are being studied in clinical trials. It may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about clinical trials is available from the NCI website.
Chemotherapy with stem cell transplant
High doses of chemotherapy are given to kill cancer cells. Healthy cells, including blood-forming cells, are also destroyed by the cancer treatment. Stem cell transplant is a treatment to replace the blood-forming cells. Stem cells (immature blood cells) are removed from the blood or bone marrow of the patient or a donor and are frozen and stored. After the patient completes chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the stored stem cells are thawed and given back to the patient through an infusion. These reinfused stem cells grow into (and restore) the body's blood cells.
Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial.
For some patients, taking part in a clinical trial may be the best treatment choice. Clinical trials are part of the cancer research process. Clinical trials are done to find out if new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard treatment.
Many of today's standard treatments for cancer are based on earlier clinical trials. Patients who take part in a clinical trial may receive the standard treatment or be among the first to receive a new treatment.
Patients who take part in clinical trials also help improve the way cancer will be treated in the future. Even when clinical trials do not lead to effective new treatments, they often answer important questions and help move research forward.
Patients can enter clinical trials before, during, or after starting their cancer treatment.
Some clinical trials only include patients who have not yet received treatment. Other trials test treatments for patients whose cancer has not gotten better. There are also clinical trials that test new ways to stop cancer from recurring (coming back) or reduce the side effects of cancer treatment.
Clinical trials are taking place in many parts of the country. Information about clinical trials supported by NCI can be found on NCI’s clinical trials search webpage. Clinical trials supported by other organizations can be found on the ClinicalTrials.gov website.
Follow-up tests may be needed.
Some of the tests that were done to diagnose the cancer or to find out the stage of the cancer may be repeated. Some tests will be repeated in order to see how well the treatment is working. Decisions about whether to continue, change, or stop treatment may be based on the results of these tests.
Some of the tests will continue to be done from time to time after treatment has ended. The results of these tests can show if your condition has changed or if the cancer has recurred (come back). These tests are sometimes called follow-up tests or check-ups.
Treatment of Early Favorable Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma
For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.
Treatment of early favorable classic Hodgkin lymphoma in adults may include the following:
Combination chemotherapy.
Combination chemotherapy with radiation therapy to the areas of the body with cancer.
Radiation therapy alone in patients who cannot be treated with combination chemotherapy.
Treatment of Early Unfavorable Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma
For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.
Treatment of early unfavorable classic Hodgkin lymphoma in adults may include the following:
Combination chemotherapy with radiation therapy to the areas of the body with cancer.
Combination chemotherapy.
A clinical trial of targeted therapy with a monoclonal antibody (brentuximab) or immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
Treatment of Advanced Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma
For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.
Treatment of advanced classic Hodgkin lymphoma in adults may include the following:
Combination chemotherapy.
Treatment of Recurrent Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma
For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.
Treatment of recurrent classic Hodgkin lymphoma in adults may include the following:
Targeted therapy with a monoclonal antibody (brentuximab).
Combination chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. Radiation therapy may be given if cancer remains after treatment. Targeted therapy (brentuximab) may be given after stem cell transplant.
Immunotherapy with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (nivolumab or pembrolizumab).
Combination chemotherapy.
Combination chemotherapy with radiation therapy to the areas of the body with cancer for patients older than 60 years.
Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy, for patients whose cancer came back only in the lymph nodes.
Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Treatment of Nodular Lymphocyte–Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma
For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.
Treatment of nodular lymphocyte–predominant Hodgkin lymphoma in adults may include the following:
Watchful waiting or active surveillance.
Radiation therapy to the areas of the body with cancer, for patients with early-stage nodular lymphocyte–predominant Hodgkin lymphoma.
Chemotherapy, for patients with advanced-stage nodular lymphocyte–predominant Hodgkin lymphoma.
Targeted therapy with a monoclonal antibody (rituximab).
Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Additional Materials (7)
Immunotherapy and Lymphoma Treatment
Video by Lymphoma Research Foundation/YouTube
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Treatment Adapted after Interim PET-CT
Video by NEJMvideo/YouTube
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Treatment Expectations
Video by Best Doctors/YouTube
Active Monitoring (watch and wait) for low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Video by Lymphoma Action/YouTube
Hodgkin's Disease or Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment
Video by Best Doctors/YouTube
Surviving Hodgkin's lymphoma: current treatment options | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Image by TheVisualMD and Bill Branson (Photographer) / NCI
Pregnancy and Chemotherapy
Image by TheVisualMD and Bill Branson (Photographer) / NCI
Treatment of Hodgkin Lymphoma During Pregnancy
Hodgkin Lymphoma During the First Trimester of Pregnancy
When Hodgkin lymphoma is diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy, it does not necessarily mean that the woman will be advised to end the pregnancy. Each woman's treatment will depend on the stage of the lymphoma, how fast it is growing, and her wishes. Treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma during the first trimester of pregnancy may include the following:
Watchful waiting when the cancer is above the diaphragm and is slow-growing. Labor may be induced and the baby delivered early so the mother can begin treatment.
Radiation therapy when the cancer is above the diaphragm. A lead shield is used to protect the unborn baby from the radiation as much as possible.
Chemotherapy using one or more drugs.
Hodgkin Lymphoma During the Second or Third Trimester of Pregnancy
When Hodgkin lymphoma is diagnosed in the second half of pregnancy, most women can delay treatment until after the baby is born. Treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma during the second or third trimester of pregnancy may include the following:
Watchful waiting, with plans to induce labor when the unborn baby is 32 to 36 weeks old.
Radiation therapy to relieve breathing problems caused by a large tumor in the chest.
Combination chemotherapy using one or more drugs.
Steroid therapy.
Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Additional Materials (4)
Sensitive content
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Pregnant Woman with Fetus at 9 Months lateral view
A woman's body undergoes enormous changes during pregnancy. The heart must work harder, as cardiac output increases 30-50% during pregnancy. Joints and ligaments become more elastic so that the pelvis can stretch during child birth. As the uterus enlarges, it reaches the level of the navel by 20 weeks and the lower edge of the rib cage by 36 weeks. Breasts enlarge and the number of milk glands increases in preparation for producing milk. The kidneys must work harder due to the increasing volume of blood they filter, which reaches its maximum at 16-24 weeks and remains at that level until delivery.
Image by TheVisualMD
Lymphoma Treatment While Pregnant - Missy's Story - The Nebraska Medical Center
Video by Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center/YouTube
Pregnant mother diagnosed with cancer
Video by WCPO 9/YouTube
Female fertility after lymphoma
Video by Lymphoma Action/YouTube
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Pregnant Woman with Fetus at 9 Months lateral view
TheVisualMD
4:07
Lymphoma Treatment While Pregnant - Missy's Story - The Nebraska Medical Center
Nebraska Medicine Nebraska Medical Center/YouTube
2:35
Pregnant mother diagnosed with cancer
WCPO 9/YouTube
8:45
Female fertility after lymphoma
Lymphoma Action/YouTube
Drugs Approved for Hodgkin Lymphoma
Development and Elimination of Cancer Cells as Chemotherapy is Applied
Image by IdkItsKatieB
Development and Elimination of Cancer Cells as Chemotherapy is Applied
The cells shown either reproduce and grow into other healthy cells, or develop a tumor through the quick replication of damaged cells. A chemotherapy drug is applied to inhibit the growth and replication only of the damaged cells.
Image by IdkItsKatieB
Drugs Approved for Hodgkin Lymphoma
This page lists cancer drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Hodgkin lymphoma. The list includes generic and brand names. This page also lists common drug combinations used in Hodgkin lymphoma. The individual drugs in the combinations are FDA-approved. However, drug combinations themselves usually are not approved, but are widely used.
The drug names link to NCI's Cancer Drug Information summaries. There may be drugs used in Hodgkin lymphoma that are not listed here.
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Hodgkin Lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of lymphoma, cancer of the lymph system. The two main types of Hodgkin lymphoma are classic and nodular lymphocyte-predominant. It is serious but can usually be cured if found and treated early. Learn more about risk factors, symptoms and treatment options.