CBC Values

Question 1

What are the normal Hemoglobin ranges (gm/dL)?

Answer 1

Men: 13.6–17.2
Women: 12.0–15.0

Question 2

What are the normal Hematocrit values (%)?

Answer 2

Men: 36–49
Women: 33-43

Question 3

What are the normal Red cell counts (10^6/µL)?

Answer 3

Men: 4.3 - 5.9
Women: 3.5 - 5.0

Question 4

What is the normal Reticulocyte count (%)?

Answer 4

0.5–1.5

Question 5

What is the normal Mean cell volume (MCV) (µm3 )?

Answer 5

82–96

Question 6

What is the normal Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) (pg)?

Answer 6

27–33

Question 7

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (gm/dL)?

Answer 7

33–37

Question 8

What is the normal RBC distribution width?

Answer 8

11.5–14.5

Question 9

What does Mean Corpuscular/Cell Volume (MCV) tell you?

Answer 9

It tells you the cell size/volume. Is useful differentiating the anemias into microcytic, normocytic and macrocytic.

Question 10

What is the calculation for approximating MCV?

Answer 10

MCV= (HCT x 10)/RBC# in millions
HCT = Hematocrit

Question 11

What are the normal values for WBC count?

Answer 11

4,000 - 11,000 cells/mm3 of whole blood (mm3= 1ul).

Can vary quite a bit.

Question 12

What are the normal WBC distribution values?

Answer 12

Neutrophils: 50 - 70%
Lymphocytes: 20 - 40%
Monocytes: 1 - 6%
Eosinophils: 1 - 5%
Basophils: up to 1%

Question 13

What is Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)?

Answer 13

It is an expression of size distribution of the erythrocytes. Tells you how many different cell shapes are present.

Question 14

What happens to RDW during most cases of anemia?

Answer 14

RDW goes up in 95% cases of anemia. Of these cases (2/3) are megablastic anemia.
If the RDW does not go up in chronic anemia you could be dealing with thalassemia.
Notable exceptions…

Question 15

What are some examples of microcytic anemia?

Answer 15

Fe deficiency, Thalassemia & chronic disease

Question 16

What are some examples of normocytic anemia?

Answer 16

Bleeding, Nutritional, renal insufficiency and hemolysis. Patient history is KEY in implicating bleeding.

Question 17

What are some examples of macrocytic anemia?

Answer 17

Certain drugs. Hydroxyurea, zidovudine and alcohol consumption are notorious for causing macrocytic anemia and should be evaluated first. Then rule out B12 or folate deficiency.

Question 18

What is neutrophilia?

Answer 18

A high number of neutrophils. Can be caused by acute infections, inflammation, acute hemorrhage, chronic granulocytic leukemia, and malignancy.

Question 19

What is lymphocytosis?

Answer 19

A high number of lymphocytes. Can be caused by viral infections, toxoplasmosis, pertussis, and leukemia

Question 20

What is monocytosis?

Answer 20

High number of monocytes. Can be caused by infections like TB, as well as cancer and inflammatory bowel disease “IBD”

Question 21

What is eosinophilia?

Answer 21

A high number of eosinophils. Can be caused by allergies, malignancy (Hodgkin’s disease), a parasitic infection, and myeloproliferative disorders.

Question 22

What is neutropenia?

Answer 22

A low number of neutrophils. Can be caused by brucellosis, typhoid, viruses, chemotherapy, aplastic anemia, B12 & folic acid deficiency.

Question 23

What is lymphopenia?

Answer 23

A decreased number of lymphocytes. Can be caused by HIV, steroids, and radiation/chemotherapy.

Question 24

What is Thrombocytosis?

Answer 24

A high number of platelets.

Question 25

What are the reactive causes of Thrombocytosis?

Answer 25

Vigorous exercise, acute hemorrhage, infections, CANCER.

Question 26

What are the autonomic causes of Thrombocytosis?

Answer 26

Polycythemia Vera, chronic granulocytic leukemia, myelofibrosis.

Question 27

What is Thrombocytopenia?

Answer 27

Low platelet numbers.

Question 28

What are the causes of Thrombocytopenia?

Answer 28

- (decreased marrow production) Aplastic anemia, chemo/RADs, B12 & folate, Leukemia - (increased destruction/sequestration)- immune system attack, splenomegaly.

Question 29

What is the normal platelet (PLT) range?

Answer 29

150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood.

Question 30

What should you look at first if the patient looks ill?

Answer 30

Look at the WBC count first. (Is the WBC above 11 or below 3.5? Look at the differential for clues).

Question 31

What should you look at first if the patient looks weak?

Answer 31

Look at Hgb and Hct first. (Is the Hgb lower than 9 or higher than 17? Look at the MCV, MCH, RDW)

Question 32

What should you look at first if the patient bruises easily?

Answer 32

Look at platelets first. (Are the platelets lower than 120 or above 350? Look at the WBC next)

Question 33

What is an important diagnostic clue about platelets (PLT) other than coagulation?

Answer 33

Platelets are acute phase reactants: increase during infection / inflammation.

Question 34

What are low WBC, Hgb, and PLT values indicative of?

Answer 34

A bone marrow issue of some sort.