CBC Interpretation And Intro To Anemia

Question 1

What is the difference between differential and absolute cell counts?

Answer 1

Differential is the relative numbers expressed in percentage
Absolute count= % x total WBC
Absolute WBC counts are what matter

Question 2

What is the hematocrit in a CBC?

Answer 2

Previously named packed cell volume
Volume percentage of RBC in whole blood
Hct= MCV x RBC on automated instruments
In normal people it is 3X Hgb which is 3X RBC

Question 3

What is the mean cellular/corpuscular volume (MCV)?

Answer 3

Average volume of RBCs in a sample

MCV= Hct x 1000/RBC

Question 4

What is the mean cellular/corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)?

Answer 4

Weight (mass) of hemoglobin in the average RBC

MCH= Hgb/RBC

Question 5

What is the mean cellular/corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)?

Answer 5

Concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of RBCs

= (Hgb/HCT) x1000

Question 6

What is the red blood distribution width (RDW)?

Answer 6

A measure of variation in size of the RBCs

The higher the RDW, the more variation in size

Question 7

What is the mean platelet volume (MPV)?

Answer 7

Measure of the average size of the platelets

Indirect measure of the age of the platelets

Question 8

What is anemia?

Answer 8

Reduction in either:
The total number of RBCs
The amount of hemoglobin in the circulation
Circulating RBC mass

Question 9

What is the difference between absolute and relative anemia?

Answer 9

Absolute is decreased red blood cell mass, represents true anemia
Relative is due to increased plasma volume’ associated with pregnancy, excessive hydration and macroglobulinemia

Question 10

What are the signs and symptoms of anemia?

Answer 10

Pallor
Fatigue
Syncope
Postural hypotension
Palpitations
Congestive heart failure

Question 11

What are the 3 causes of anemia?

Answer 11

Blood loss- trauma, cancer
Increased destruction of RBCs (hemolysis)-
Insufficient production

Question 12

What are the types of hemolysis?

Answer 12

Intracorpuscular: thalassemia,elliptocytosis
Extracorpuscular: autoimmune disorders

Question 13

What are the reasons for insufficient production?

Answer 13

Nutritional deficiency: iron, B12/folate deficiency

Bone marrow suppression or replacement

Question 14

What are the classification of anemia?

Answer 14

Microcytic-<7 microns or 80fL
Normocytic
Macrocytic->8.5 microns or 100 fL

Question 15

What some qualitative abnormalities terms of RBCs?

Answer 15

Anisocytosis: variation in size
Poikilocytosis: variation in shape
Anisopoikilocytosis: variation in size and shape
Hypochromic:decreased hemoglobin with pale staining
Polychromasia: increased immature RBCs (reticulocytes)