- A full blood count is one of the main tests for CLL and the first step in reaching a diagnosis. A full blood count measures the number and appearance of red cells, white cells and platelets in the blood.
- A smear of blood examined microscopically will show small, dark purple/blue leukaemia cells (Figure 3). As leukaemia cells break easily, they appear as ‘smudge cells’ (Figure 3). These cells are specific for CLL.
Figure 3 CLL cells and ‘smudge cells’
Courtesy of Becky Socha,
. Labels have been added by Leukaemia Care
