Your blood cells are made in your bone marrow, the soft, spongy tissue inside your bones. Here, young cells grow into the different types of blood cells your body needs.
Myeloid cells are one family of these blood cells. They include:
A myeloid condition happens when changes in the genes of these developing cells cause them to grow in the wrong way. The marrow may make too many cells, too few, or cells that don't work properly.
Some common myeloid blood conditions include:
Your myeloid haematology panel looks at the genes inside your blood or bone marrow cells. Most changes it finds have developed during your lifetime and are only present in the affected cells. These are called acquired changes and are not passed on to your family.
Occasionally, a change is found that may have been present since birth. This is called an inherited change. Because the blood test looks at affected blood cells, it cannot tell these two types apart on its own.
To find out, we need to test a different part of your body that is not affected by your blood condition. Hair follicles are ideal for this.
Finding out whether a gene change is inherited gives you and your doctor clearer information to plan your care.
