Patients who first visit the hematology department often complain about too many tests, believing that frequent blood tests or bone punctures are bad for their health and time-consuming. In fact, these laboratory tests are essential, and for older hematology patients, many will take the initiative to request relevant tests because the results of these tests play a monitoring role for their own health. Not only is it easy to understand the efficacy of treatment and adjust medications, but it also facilitates the early formulation of future treatment directions. First of all, learn to read the corresponding laboratory results. Routine blood tests: When looking at routine blood tests, the three most important indicators to look at are white blood cell count, hemoglobin and platelet count. Usually patients with leukemia will have abnormal blood count indicators. Bone marrow smear: Because leukemia cells are produced in the bone marrow, a bone marrow smear is the main basis for the diagnosis of leukemia. Therefore, for leukemia patients, a bone marrow smear is essential. The principle is simple: 0.5 ml of bone marrow is taken and applied to a glass slide, which is then analyzed under a microscope. Bone puncture can be performed on an outpatient basis and does not interfere with daily life. Blood smear: It can also be called blood sorting, blood percentage, etc. The principle is similar to that of a bone marrow smear, except that the bone marrow is replaced with peripheral blood. Not all leukemia patients have abnormalities in this test. So why do it? Because it is quick and convenient and allows the doctor to determine the approximate type of disease in the first place and make decisions about treatment and management. Other bone marrow tests: Often, when hematology patients have bone puncture, they not only ask for a bone marrow smear, but also other bone marrow tests, such as chromosomes, immunophenotyping, fusion genes, etc. Blood biochemistry: This is equivalent to an assessment of body functions such as liver and kidney function, which facilitates the judgment of diagnosis and the choice of treatment. Many first-time patients do not understand why these tests are needed? This is because there are many types of leukemia, and each type of leukemia may combine different chromosomes, fusion genes, etc.; the treatment options, efficacy, and prognosis of these different types of leukemia are different. If chromosomal, fusion gene, and immunophenotyping tests are done at the beginning of the consultation, there are several benefits: ① It helps in diagnosis and further grouping. (ii) The purpose of grouping is to decide how to use medication, that is, to develop a treatment plan. ③Another purpose of grouping is to determine the prognosis. Many patients and families ask, “How is this disease? What is the success rate of treatment? Only with a thorough understanding of the disease can the above questions be answered. ④The results of these tests will serve as a monitoring indicator, and a comparison between before and after treatment will provide an understanding of the sensitivity to treatment, so as to guide the development of future treatment strategies. In short, the bone marrow smear is like the tip of the iceberg on the surface of the sea, while other bone marrow tests such as chromosomes are like going to the bottom of the sea to see how big and deep the iceberg is; in this way, a comprehensive analysis of the disease can be made at the early stage of treatment, laying the foundation for future treatment and judgment.