Leukemia blood tests
As discussed earlier, in leukemia there is an abnormal proliferation of white cells in the bone marrow which spill into the bloodstream and cause various complications. Therefore, it is important to identify abnormal values in the blood and in key organs of the body, such as the liver, heart, bone, and lungs. The blood tests include:
- Coagulation Profile: tests include Prothrombin Time (PT), which determines if there is any defect in the extrinsic pathway in the coagulation cascade. APTT (Active ThromboPlastin Time) is another test that can be deranged when there is a defect in the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade.
- Renal function tests: Include the creatinine and urea levels, which get deranged in patients with acute infection.
- Liver function tests: Serum Alkaline Phosphatase, AST, and ALT levels are deranged in leukemic patients, and they show that the liver is not functioning properly.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): The white cell count gets higher than normal, sometimes alarmingly high. CBC is the first test every doctor looks at because they are quite common for most diseases. Decreased Hemoglobin and decrease in platelet count are common findings in leukemic patients, too.
- Serum Electrolytes: As the patient cannot get proper blood supply to the tissues, the body gets weak. This is apparent in serum electrolyte analysis, which shows abnormal levels of sodium, potassium, and calcium.
- Bone marrow aspiration/Biopsy: It is not a blood test, but should be highlighted because it is an important diagnostic test, which determines the cause of leukemia and the type of leukemia present. Bone marrow aspiration or biopsy is often the definite diagnostic test for leukemia.