ADVANCES IN LABORATORY HEMATOLOGY: CLINICAL UTILITY OF NON-STANDARD PARAMETERS IN CURRENT DIAGNOSTICS

Laboratory hematology remains pivotal for the assessment of a kaleidoscope of medical conditions. The Complete Blood Count (CBC) is an essential test, providing information on cellular components of blood, including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets. While standard parameters such as WBC count, hemoglobin concentration, and platelet count have been extensively used for decades, technological advancements in hematology analyzers have ushered in non-standard or extended parameters that considerably refine the diagnostic and prognostic capabilities. Parameters such as the monocyte distribution width (MDW), cell population data (CPD), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), RBC distribution width (RDW) and hemoglobin in reticulocytes have gained increasing clinical significance for early disease detection, treatment monitoring, and outcome prediction. This article aims to provide a personal overview on some of these non-standard hematological parameters, synthesizing recent evidence from clinical and laboratory studies, summarizing their diagnostic performance, exploring their pathophysiological bases, and postulating future directions for enhancing precision medicine and improving patient outcomes.