Haematology is a medical science that deals with the blood and blood-forming organ. It deals with many aspects of diseases which affect the blood, such as anaemia, leukaemia, lymphoma and clotting or bleeding disorders. It also encompasses the subspecialty of transfusion medicine, which includes blood typing and compatibility testing and the management and supply of a large range of blood products.

The Full Blood Count(FBC) blood test provides important information about the type, number and appearance of cells in the blood, especially red blood cells (vital for carrying oxygen around the body), white blood cells (key to the body's immune system), and clotting cells (important for controlling and stopping bleeding).

An inflammation marker known as the ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is also part of the test, used to help diagnose conditions associated with acute and chronic inflammation, including infections, cancers and autoimmune diseases.

Example test:

• INR (clotting test)
• White cell blood count
• Red blood cells count
• ESR
• Etc.