CBC Flashcards
4 causes of low RBC
- Iron deficiency
- Blood loss
- Hemolysis
- Bone Marrow suppression
Lifespan of a mature RBC
120 days
What is hemoglobin?
The oxygen carrying pigment in RBCs. There are millions of hg molecules in each RBC.
Normal Hg for men?
14-18 g/ dL
Normal hg for women?
12-16 g/ dL
What does MCV stand for and why is it measured
Mean copuscular volume AKA mean cell volume is - measuring MCV can help to determine the etiology of anemia.
If MCV is low i.e. RBCs are smaller than normal what could it could indicate, and what is this called in cases of anemia:
- Various types of anemia including iron deficiency anemia
- Thalassemia
- microcytic anemia
MCV that is higher than normal i.e. RBCs larger than normal could indicate ________, and what is it called in cases of anemia:
- B12 deficiency
- Disorders that limit the body’s ability to absorb or use B12, such as celiac disease, SIBO, chron’s disease and other AI diseases.
- Folic acid deficiency
- Liver disease
*macrocytic anemia
Anemia with normal MCV could indicate:
- Blood loss/bleeding
- Kidney failure
- Aplastic anemia
Normal MCV value
80 -100
What does MCH stand for?
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
What is MCH and how is it calculated?
- MCH represents the average mass of hg per RBC.
- Is calculated by dividing the total mass of hg by the # of RBCs in a volume of blood. (Hg ÷ RBC count)
Normal MCH?
26-33 picograms per cell (pg)
What is MCHC and how is it calculated
1.Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration is a measure of the O2 carrying capacity of RBCs
2. Hg ÷ Hct
Normal MCHC value?
31-35 g/dL
