Hematology is the branch of medicine that deals with the study of blood and the cause, treatment, prognosis, and prevention of diseases related to blood. The clinical segment of hematology involves the study of blood disorders and their symptoms. This section includes different types of cancers, hemophilia, bleeding disorders, blood clotting disorders, thrombosis, hemorrhagic disorders, and leukemia. Diagnostic procedures used in this section include the use of blood tests and microscopic examination of the affected tissue. Other techniques used include immunohistochemistry, PCR analysis, and biopsy.
A Hematologist can also test the strength of the immune system to detect and treat infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS. Sometimes, people with HIV refuse to take medication for fear of losing their ability to fight off infection. For these people, a Hematologist can test their immune systems and help them combat their AIDS. Moreover, one of the most common problems requiring the attention of a Hematologist is bleeding disorders. These include various types of thrombosis, which are blood clots that form in veins or arteries. These can be caused by surgery, auto-immune disorders, and sometimes tumors.
Hematology measures the volume of the blood, called a blood count, in order to diagnose bleeding disorders. Hematology tests include tests on the blood, blood proteins, and blood-producing organs. These tests help evaluate a variety of blood conditions, such as infection, inflammation, anemia, hemophilia, leukemia, blood-clotting disorders, as well as the body's response to chemotherapy treatments. It involves treating diseases that affect the production of blood and its components, such as blood cells, hemoglobin, blood proteins, bone marrow, platelets, blood vessels, spleen, and the mechanism of coagulation.