Blood and Wine

Subject: Haematuria and Cytology
From: Roger Lovejoy
Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:16:34 +0100
To: martina.hornby@phnt.swest.nhs.uk
User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.14 (Windows/20080421)

Dear Martina Hornby

Thank you for the time you spent helping me with my cytology queries regarding haematuria.

Re: Recommended Procedure for samples
You mentioned the recommended procedure is for three samples be taken, mid-morning, on consecutive days.
As the local surgery has samples collected at 11am I'm wondering what
condition the samples need to be in when they arrive at Derriford. Do
they have to arrive separately each day, so they are 'fresh' or can
they be stored locally, refrigerated or otherwise and then sent as a
batch?

On the subject of 'screening' for types of red blood cells
I can refer you to two web site pages. I have emailed the second and am about to call the first:

On reading the first again, I note doesn't specifically say that the cytology is the method for assessing the source of blood, its just the way its written in the same paragraph. It was very useful talking to you as it became clearer that using cytology to find the source of
haematuria may be a red-herring

1. From: http://www.carepathonline.com/Topic.aspx?Nav=0&Rel=166

"Your doctor may order urine cytology if you have blood in
your urine and a definite cause of the bleeding has not been identified. The medical name for blood in the urine is hematuria. It has many causes, including strenuous exercise, too much stress, infection, kidney and bladder stones, and even cancer. When there is blood in your urine, it is important to identify what part of your urinary tract the blood is coming from so any problems can be properly diagnosed and treated."

2. From: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-cytology.htm

"Another important aspect in the discipline of
cytology is
examining
cell interaction. By studying how cells relate to other cells or to the
environment, cytologists can predict problems or examine environmental
dangers to cells, such as toxic or cancer-causing substances. In humans
and other multi-cellular structures, cytology can examine the presence
of too many of one kind of cell, or the lack of enough of a certain
kind of cell. In a simple test like a complete blood count, a
laboratory can look at white blood cells and identify the presence of
an infection, or it may examine a low level of certain types
of red blood cells and diagnose anemia."

All the best

Roger Lovejoy