Heme Notes: A Pocket Atlas of Cell Morphology
Bhavna Mehta · Laboratory Medicine · 2015
I enjoyed reading this concise pocket atlas by Denise Harmening and Kathleen Finnegan. I find it to be a well-written book that any medical technologist or physician would love to have in her or his pocket for quick reference. The atlas covers practical theory of normal and abnormal peripheral blood and bone marrow cells. Each cell line is explained completely, with illustrations and reference values for each cell type. The atlas outlines the entire manual differential procedure step by step, from basic tasks, such as preparing smears and stains to complex tasks, such as differentiating between cells that are difficult or confusing to distinguish. It uses compare-and-contrast features and offers hints for identifying cells. Estimation and calculations of white blood cells (WBCs) and platelet counts and correction of WBCs due to the presence of nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) are clearly explained therein. Each condition (such as anemia and leukemia) is presented in the standard format, which includes the pathophysiology of, clinical features of, and laboratory findings for each condition, as well as relevant additional tests. This makes it easier for the technologist to make an informed decision about the cells in question and for the physician to order the correct tests, both of which aid in deriving an accurate diagnosis. One weakness of this book is that some illustrations, such as on pages 48 and 49, are not presented in very high resolution. The main strength of the book is the concise, complete, and lucid manner in which the subject is explained. Also, the colored title tabs make it easier for one to locate a given subject of interest. Any health care worker involved in patient diagnosis and management of blood diseases would benefit from this pocket-sized book. The pocket atlas is indeed an excellent teaching tool and definitely could be a medical technologist’s best friend.