Blood Disorders Polycythemia Vera & Myelofibrosis Common Blood Work Drawn In Myeloproliferative Neoplasms By Amber Yates, MD Amber Yates, MD LinkedIn Twitter Amber Yates, MD, is a board-certified pediatric hematologist and a practicing physician at Baylor College of Medicine. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 18, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Douglas A. Nelson, MD Medically reviewed by Douglas A. Nelson, MD LinkedIn Douglas A. Nelson, MD, is a board-certified oncologist and hematologist who previously served for 13 years as a physician in the US Air Force. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print If you have a myeloproliferative neoplasm, you may need to have frequent blood work. These conditions, which include polycythemia vera (PV), primary myelofibrosis (PMF), essential thrombocytopenia (ET), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), and atypical myeloproliferative neoplasms, cause abnormal growth of blood cells. In some cases, myeloproliferative disorders may lead to health complications, such as bleeding or they can develop into leukemia, a type of blood cancer. This article will answer your questions about the most common types of blood work you will need when you have a myeloproliferative disorder. Hero Images / Getty Images Scoring Systems There are several ways of assessing myeloproliferative disease severity, progression, and the effectiveness of treatment. These methods can incorporate symptoms and blood tests. For example, PMF is often scored using the classical International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) and Dynamic-IPSS, which both involve criteria that include blood tests. Complete Blood Count (CBC) A complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most common types of lab work used to monitor blood disorders. The CBC looks at all your blood cells, which include white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This test, which may offer the first clues about what is causing your symptoms, may need to be repeated at scheduled intervals if you are undergoing treatment. A CBC can identify changes in your condition too. For example, ET and PV can evolve into myelofibrosis or leukemia. The early signs of this change, such as a big drop in the hemoglobin and platelet count, can be detected with a CBC. White Blood Cells (WBCs) White blood cells (WBCs) are a part of your immune system, and they help fight infections. There are five types of WBCs: NeutrophilsLymphocytesMonocytesEosinophilsBasophils The number of WBCs in your blood is usually the first number reported on the CBC. The CBC differential (often called the diff) looks at what percentage of each type of WBC is present. In PV or ET, your WBC count might be slightly elevated. In PMF, some people will have an elevated WBC count, some a normal count, and others a low count. High or Low White Blood Cell Counts Can Lead to Health Problems Red Blood Cells (RBC) The body's red blood cells (RBCs) carry oxygen from the lungs to the organs. There are a few different red blood cell measures reported a CBC: The RBC count is the total number of red blood cells circulating in the blood at the time. Hemoglobin is the protein found in the RBCs that carries oxygen. Hematocrit represents how much of the blood is made up of RBCs as a part of the overall blood plasma. In conditions that cause the number of RBCs to rise, like PV, the hemoglobin and hematocrit numbers are up. The hematocrit is often used to check on how treatment for PV is working. Medications or phlebotomy (physical removal of blood) are adjusted based on the desired hematocrit range, which is typically less than 45 percent in men and less than 42 percent in women. RBC Count: Tests That Measure Oxygen-Carrying Red Cells in Blood A blood transfusion may be needed when hemoglobin drops below 8 grams per deciliter. Anemia, a low level of RBCs, can have many causes—and the red blood cell values can help point to the cause. Platelet Count A platelet count also is part of the CBC. Platelets help your blood clot, and high or low levels can be indicators of worsening disease. In people with ET that requires care, the platelet count serves as a treatment guide based on the desired platelet count. Recap Healthcare providers rely on some common blood tests to diagnose and treat people with a myeloproliferative neoplasm disorder. The counts for red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood may point to a specific type of disease. In some cases, the findings are used as part of a formula your doctor may use to set a prognostic score that may help guide your treatment. Blood Smear A blood smear is a visual microscopic assessment of the size and shape of blood cells in a sample. It can be used to determine distinguishing features of myeloproliferative disorders and other blood diseases. For example, red blood cells and platelets become abnormally shaped in myelofibrosis. And certain types of cancer can be identified by the changed appearance of blood cells. Is Myelofibrosis the Same as Cancer? Von Willebrand Panel People with ET are at risk of developing acquired von Willebrand disease, a bleeding disorder. This risk goes up as the platelet count goes up (more than one million platelets per microliter). If you have ET and bleeding, a von Willebrand panel may be done to see if this is the cause. Treatment for this condition is focused on reducing the platelet count. Von Willebrand Disease Symptoms and Treatment Summary The three blood tests discussed here are among the most common for people who have or may have a serious blood disorder. Depending on your specific condition, you might need other tests too. More blood work often is needed after the initial diagnostic test because your doctors will need to continue to monitor your condition to see whether your treatment is working. A Word From Verywell If you are having frequent blood work, you can compare your new test results with those of your previous tests to see the changes your doctor is looking for. Your doctor might be using certain benchmarks to determine whether you need a change in treatment. Don't hesitate to ask any questions you have about your results and what they mean for your health. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Langlais BT, Mazza GL, Kosiorek HE, Palmer J, Mesa R, Dueck AC. Validation of a modified version of the myeloproliferative neoplasm symptom assessment form total symptom score. J Hematol. 2021 Oct;10(5):207-211. doi:10.14740/jh914 Campanelli R, Massa M, Rosti V, Barosi G. New markers of disease progression in myelofibrosis. Cancers (Basel). 2021 Oct 23;13(21):5324. doi:10.3390/cancers13215324 Additional Reading Kim S-Y, Bae SH, Bang S-M, et al. The 2020 revision of the guidelines for the management of myeloproliferative neoplasms. Korean J Intern Med. 2020;36(1):45-62. doi: 10.3904/kjim.2020.319 Teferri A. Prognosis and Treatment of Essential Thrombocythemia, Prognosis of Primary Myelofibrosis and Management of Primary Myelofibrosis, and Prognosis and Treatment of Polycythemia Vera. In: UpToDate, Post TW (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA. 2016.