Laboratory evaluation of Red Blood Cells Flashcards
(45 cards)
What is in a CBC for RBC?
Erythrocyte count (RBC)
Hemoglobin (Hgb or Hb)
Hematocrit (Hct)
Red Cell Indices- go with size and volume of cells
Whats in a red cell indices?
4
go with size and volume of cells MCV MCH MCHC RDW- lot of different sizes and shapes of cells. high when there is high variation
What other kind of tests can we look at RBC besides a CBC?
3
- Morphology
- Reticulocyte count- young cells(bigger still have some nucleus)
- Bone Marrow Aspiration/Biopsy
What is a Erythrocyte count (RBC) and what are the normal values
Number red blood cells per unit volume of whole blood
Normal values
Female: 4.2 to 5.4x 106 RBCs/µL
Male: 4.7 to 6.1 x 106 RBCs/µL
When does the erythrocyte count (RBC) decrease?
3
Anemia, which can be caused by:
Hemorrhage
Sickle Cell
Dietary deficiency, i.e. iron or B-12
When can erythrocyte count increase?
5
Increased when too many are made and with fluid loss: Higher altitudes Diarrhea Dehydration Burns Pregnancy
What does Hemoglobin (Hgb or Hb) measure?
Measures concentration of hemoglobin in anticoagulated (or capillary) whole blood
Grams of Hb/100mL whole blood
g/dL
Measures the amount of oxygen-carrying protein in the blood.
Reflects the number of RBC’s
What are the normal hemoglobin values for:
newborns?
females?
males?
Normals
Newborns: 14 to 20 g/dL
Female: 12 to 16 g/dL
Male: 13.5 to 18 g/dL
In what situations does hemoglobin decrease?
7
Anemia Hemorrhage Nutritional deficiency Renal disease Cancers Pregnancy --Due to expanded blood volume Certain drugs --Antibiotics, ASA, sulfonamides
What does hemoglobin increase with?
6
Increases with Polycythemia vera COPD CHF High altitudes Severe burns Dehydration
What does our hemocrit value tell us?
Packed cell volume (%)
Percentage of the total blood volume that is made up by RBC’s
What are the normal values for hemocrit?
Normal values
Female 37 to 47%
Male 42 to 52%
What would our hemocrit decrease with?
9
Anemia Hemorrhage Dietary Deficiency Bone marrow failure Pregnancy Malnutrition Leukemia Cirrhosis Hyperthyroidism
What would our hemocrit increase with?
7
Increases with: Congential heart disease Polycythemia vera Dehydation Erythocytosis Eclampsia Burns COPD
Acute blood loss (anemia) is characterized by what?
low blood volume and low RBC
shows a normal HCT though
Chronic anemia is characterized by what?
High blood volume and low RBC levels (low HCT)
Non-anemic low hemocrit is caused by what?
volume overlaod
-normal RBC level and really high blood volume
How do we calculate Mean cell colume or MVC?
What does it measure?
MCV (fL) = (Hct/RBC) X 10
Example: MCV = (41/4.6) x 10 = 89 fL
Measure of the average volume, or size, of a single RBC
How do we interpret MVC?
3
Interpretation
Normocytic 80 to 97 fL
Microcytic 97 fL
What is the MCV the go to lab for?
for determining the types of anemia
When the MCV is increased the cell is said to be? And what is this caused by?
When increased value, the RBC is said to be abnormally large – Macrocytic
- B-12 deficiency
- Folic acid deficiency
Same for MCH
When the MCV is decreased the cell is said to be? and what is this caused by?
When decreased value, the RBC is said t be abnormally small – Microcytic
- Iron deficiency
- Thalassemia
Same for MCH
Neurological symtpoms are always associated with what kind of anemia?
B12
How do you calculate the Mean cell hemoglobin (MCH?
MCH = (Hgb/RBC) X 10
Example: MCH = (13.7/4.6) x 10 = 29.8 pg
