Whole blood EDTA tube
1 mL
Blood Films
Blood films are usually prepared by the laboratory from the EDTA sample. Please note that blood films should not be sent by courier (Health and Safety regulations).
Exceptionally a patients platelets may clump in EDTA preventing us from counting them. In this case we will suggest taking an additional coag tube for platelet count. It is essential that the request form indicates this
Haemolysed or clotted samples cannot be tested – mix sample by inversion, do not shake.
Aged samples may give abnormal results
FBC Parameter | Female | Male | Citation |
WBC | 3.6 – 11.0 x 109/L | 3.8 – 10.6 x 109/L | Dallman PR Pediatrics 16th ed New York Appleton-Century-Crofts 1977 |
NEUT | 1.8 – 7.5 x 109/L | 1.8 – 6.5 x 109/L | Dallman PR Pediatrics 16th ed New York Appleton-Century-Crofts 1977 |
LYMPH | 1.1 – 3.5 x 109/L | 1.1 – 3.5 x 109/L | Dallman PR Pediatrics 16th ed New York Appleton-Century-Crofts 1977 |
MONO | 0.2 – 0.8 x 109/L | 0.2 – 0.8 x 109/L | Dacie JV & Lewis SM Practical Haematology 6th ed Churchill Livingstone1984 |
EOS | 0.04 – 0.40 x 109/L | 0.04 – 0.40 x 109/L | Dacie JV & Lewis SM Practical Haematology 6th ed Churchill Livingstone1984 |
BASO | 0.01 – 0.1 x 109/L | 0.01 – 0.1 x 109/L | Dacie JV & Lewis SM Practical Haematology 6th ed Churchill Livingstone1984 |
Hb | 120 – 160 g/L | 130 – 180 g/L | Dallman PR Pediatrics 16th ed New York Appleton-Century-Crofts 1977 |
RBC | 4.0 – 5.2 x 1012/L | 4.5 – 5.9 x 1012/L | Dallman PR Pediatrics 16th ed New York Appleton-Century-Crofts 1977 |
HCT | 0.36 – 0.46 | 0.41 – 0.53 | Dallman PR Pediatrics 16th ed New York Appleton-Century-Crofts 1977 |
MCV | 82 – 100 fL | 82 – 100 fL | Dallman PR Pediatrics 16th ed New York Appleton-Century-Crofts 1977 |
MCH | 27 – 33 pg | 27 – 33 pg | Dallman PR Pediatrics 16th ed New York Appleton-Century-Crofts 1977 |
MCHC | 320 -357 g/L | 320-357 g/L | Dallman PR Pediatrics 16th ed New York Appleton-Century-Crofts 1977 |
RDW | 9.9 – 15.5 | 9.9 – 15.5 | Dallman PR Pediatrics 16th ed New York Appleton-Century-Crofts 1977 |
PLAT | 150 – 400 x 109/L | 150 – 400 x 109/L | Bain BJ Blood Cells A Practical Guide 2nd ed Blackwell Science 1995 |
1 hr – STAT samples
24 hrs – routine samples
In house
Clinical advice is available from the Haematology Medical team (contact RD&E switchboard on 01392 411611)
Specimen Labelling Procedure