Pathology. Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek ÏÎ¬Î¸Î¿Ï, pathos which may be translated into English as either experience or suffering. and -Î»Î¿Î³Î¯Î±, -logia, An account of or the study of.
Red cells contain a special protein called hemoglobin, which helps carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and then returns carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs so it can be exhaled. Blood appears red because of the large number of red blood cells, which get their color from the hemoglobin.
Hematocrit and hemoglobin measurements are blood tests. Hemoglobin enables red cells to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide. The hemoglobin is checked before each donation to ensure that the donor has adequate red blood cell levels to donate blood. Blood donors must have a minimum of 12.5 g/dL hemoglobin or a hematocrit of 38% to be accepted for donation. The hematocrit is a measure of the volume that red blood cells take up in the blood. Most men have a hemoglobin of 12.5 g/dL or greater and a hematocrit above 38 percent, but many women naturally have lower hemoglobin/hematocrit levels.