Haematology profiles at Haywards Heath Hospital

What is a haematology profile?

A haematology profile is a blood test that looks at the number, size and characteristics of the cells in your blood, mainly your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The test may also include looking at an indication of inflammation called the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Why might I need a haematology profile?

You might be offered a haematology profile to help find the cause of symptoms such as unexplained tiredness, weakness or shortness of breath, or as part of investigating a suspected blood-related condition. It can help with:

• diagnosing and finding the cause of anaemia, such as iron, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
• detecting infections or inflammatory conditions
• assessing your risk of bleeding or clotting problems, based on your platelet levels
• monitoring blood-related cancers, such as leukaemia or lymphoma, or checking how ongoing conditions such as chronic kidney disease are affecting your blood.

If your GP has referred you to a hospital haematology clinic specifically, rather than just requesting this blood test, this is usually because an earlier blood test already showed something that a specialist needs to look into further.

What are the benefits of a haematology profile?

A haematology profile gives a detailed picture of your blood's ability to carry oxygen, fight infection and clot normally, using a single blood sample. This can help identify a range of conditions early, guide further tests if needed, and monitor how well any treatment is working.

What does a haematology profile include?

• Full blood count (FBC): This measures your red blood cells, white blood cells (including different types, known as a differential), platelets, haemoglobin and related measurements such as the average size of your red blood cells
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): This measures how quickly red blood cells settle at the bottom of a test tube, a general, non-specific marker of inflammation in the body.

Some clinics also combine a haematology profile with other blood tests, such as biochemistry or iron studies, as part of a wider health check.

How do I prepare for a haematology profile?

Bring a list of any medicines you're taking, as some can affect your results. For the blood test itself, no special preparation, such as fasting, is usually needed.

What happens during a haematology profile?

1. A sample of blood is taken, usually from a vein in your arm, using a needle and a collection tube
2. The sample is sent to a laboratory, where it's checked for the different components that make up the profile
3. Results are often available within a few hours from some private laboratories, though NHS turnaround can take longer.

If you're attending a hospital haematology clinic, the process is often part of a longer appointment. You'll usually have your blood taken on arrival, which is then processed while you wait, which can take up to an hour, before you see a consultant haematologist or a member of their team. The whole appointment often lasts about 40 minutes.

What happens after a haematology profile?

You can usually go about your normal activities straight away as the test itself doesn't need any recovery time.

Results from a straightforward haematology profile are often available within a few hours to a day, though this varies between laboratories and can take longer within the NHS.

If you're being seen at a haematology clinic, you may be given a follow-up appointment, sometimes with a further blood test beforehand, so your results can be discussed with you. Some follow-ups are done by phone instead of in person, particularly if the main purpose is to monitor your blood levels over time.

If anything in your results needs a fuller explanation, your GP or specialist will talk you through what they mean and what, if anything, happens next.

What are the risks of a haematology profile?

Having a blood sample taken for a haematology profile is a routine, low-risk procedure.