Blood count is an important indicator for early detection of hematologic disorders, such as abnormally high white blood cells; abnormally low white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, red blood cells, and granulocytes, and unsatisfactory symptomatic treatment, when leukemia should be alerted.
Bone marrow aspiration biopsy is an important tool to confirm the diagnosis of leukemia. In most cases, the bone marrow image has a significant increase in nucleated cells, mainly leukemic primitive cells, accounting for more than 30% of the non-erythroid cells, while the more mature intermediate stage cells are absent and a small number of mature granulocytes remain, forming what is called a “fissure” phenomenon. Normal juvenile erythrocytes and megakaryocytes are reduced. About 10% of acute AMLs have hypoproliferative bone marrow called hypoproliferative acute leukemia. Although the bone marrow is hypoproliferative, leukemic primitive cells still account for more than 30% of the non-erythroid cells. It is also sometimes seen in the plasma of acute monocytic leukemia and acute granulocytic-monocytic leukemia, but not in acute lymphoid leukemia.
Auer vesicles help to distinguish acute from non-acute leukemia.
Cytochemical tests can identify the type of leukemia; cellular immunologic tests can distinguish between acute and non-acute leukemia; chromosomal and genetic tests can be helpful in the treatment of leukemia; and blood biochemistry and coagulation tests can be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of leukemia.