What test do doctors do to diagnose leukemia?

Leukemia: A diagnosis of leukemia is usually suspected by looking at a "complete blood count" and by viewing the blood underneath a microscope. It is then confirmed by performing a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, and sending the samples for special genetic testing.

Blood cell tests: We typically look at your white blood cells, not just how many there are, but also what they look like under a microscope. That's the first hint and if something looks abnormal, we will typically send the blood for specialized testing for cancer markers and occasionally may need to sample a lymph node or the bone marrow to confirm the diagnosis.

Several...: The initial testing includes blood analysis with cbc, differential, and morphology, followed by a bone marrow study (if there is suspicion for leukemia) that entails extensive testing in the form of morphologic evaluation, flow cytometry, cytogenetics, molecular studies, etc.