Here are a few abbreviations and words that I use often and their definition.

1. CBC = complete blood count which includes red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells.

The CBC blood test draws blood from a tube into an electronic counter. It counts the red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells until it reaches a count of 100 cells. They than will do a manual differential to find the percentage of the types of white blood cells.

2. ANC = absolute neutrophil count is the white blood cells times the % neutrophils. Normal ANC is above 1,500. Below 500 is very low and 500 to 1,000 is low.

3. RBC = Red blood cells contain pigment, hemoglobin which carries oxygen from the lungs to the other tissues that need it. They normally live 4 months.

4. Platelets help blood clot and keeps you from bleeding when you are cut. Low numbers lead to bruising, nosebleeds, and internal bleeding. They live 7-10 days.

5. WBC = White blood cells are called leukocytes and their types are phagocytes (eaters) and lympchocytes. Types of phagocytes are neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils. They all live just hours except monocytes lives for days.

6. Nuetrophils are white blood cells that play a vital role in the body’s immune system. They are the primary defense mechanism against invading bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. (low counts can lead to susceptibility to severe bacterial and fungal infections).

7. Lymphocytes are white blood cells with the small lymphocytes called T cells and B-cells which are the major cellular components of the adaptive immune response.

8. B cells respond to pathogens by producing large quantities of antibodies which then neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses. B cells remain in the bone marrow to mature, while T cells migrate to and mature in a distinct organ, called the thymus.

Bennett’s leukemia was in the precursor B cell of the Lymphocytes.