Helen, a 45-year-old woman, has been feeling
constantly tired and worn out. She does not eat
very well and has been having heavy periods
for a number of years. She has no other symptoms
and is not using any prescribed medication.
She goes to see her local doctor who observes that
she looks pale. The doctor orders a blood test (a full
blood count) to see if Helen might be anaemic.
The specimen is sent to the
Haematology laboratory and is placed in a machine that automatically reads the level of haemoglobin. The result is below the normal range indicating that Helen is anaemic. The machine detects that the cells are smaller than they should be, which often suggests an iron deficiency anaemia. The pathologist (a Haematologist) confirms that the cells are "microcytic" by checking a smear of blood under the microscope. The report is sent back to Helen's local doctor who then wants to confirm whether the anaemia is due to low levels of iron in her blood.
A further blood test is sent to the
Chemical Pathology department this time, which confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia, the cause of Helen's tiredness. The GP will then discuss the situation with Helen so that he/she can establish the cause and start treatment.