Leukaemia
For the diagnosis of suspected leukemia or leukemic disease as well as for the follow-up and monitoring of patients with blood cancer, blood sampling and blood count determination is an important tool. By determining a large blood count, the differential blood count can be used to determine whether and how the white blood cells in the blood serum of the respective affected patient have changed (malignantly) and whether other cell series, such as the red blood cells or the blood platelets, are possibly also affected and deviate from the standard values. This makes it possible to differentiate between different types and subgroups of leukaemias, to assess the extent of the disease or – in the course of therapy – to evaluate the success of treatment.
If a leukaemia is present, it can show up in the blood count quite differently: The white blood cells can be either decreased or increased, but sometimes even normal and inconspicuous, depending on the type and stage of the blood cancer. The red blood cells and platelets, on the other hand, are usually lowered, since the formation of these cells is often suppressed by the increased production of white blood cells. However, a blood test alone is usually not sufficient for leukaemia diagnostics to make an absolutely reliable diagnosis, so that it is usually followed by a bone marrow examination.
