What tests diagnose Leukemia?

Question

Would a standard blood test show a red flag? Or can those show up normal? If so, what things do you test for?

Thanks!

Answer 1

You'd have a blood test first, then if the doctor suspects Leukemia from your blood work up and your symptoms, he likely would do a bone marrow biopsy on your hip.  

Answer 2

Blood work is the first step toward determing the disparity between white and red blood counts. If leukemia is strongly suspected, a spinal tap is usually ordered. I know this because my mother had leukemia. She was afraid to do the tap because it's painful (but not for long). Thankfully, she did, and lived several months more than she would have with the change in treatment.

Answer 3

Typically, the CBC will show some abnormalities, and the lab tech will send a smear off to a pathologist for a closer look.

From there ... I don't know. It depends on what the pathologist finds and what kind of leukemia they think it is. Bone marrow biopsy, CSGF exam ... could go in several directions.

Answer 4

they take you blood and test for abnormal cells. If that turns out positive then they do a bone marrow and spinal tap (needle up spine and bone) No big deal really. You just wake up with a really sore back.