CBC Values Flashcards
What are the normal Hemoglobin ranges (gm/dL)?
Men: 13.6–17.2
Women: 12.0–15.0
What are the normal Hematocrit values (%)?
Men: 36–49
Women: 33-43
What are the normal Red cell counts (10^6/µL)?
Men: 4.3 - 5.9
Women: 3.5 - 5.0
What is the normal Reticulocyte count (%)?
0.5–1.5
What is the normal Mean cell volume (MCV) (µm3 )?
82–96
What is the normal Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) (pg)?
27–33
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (gm/dL)?
33–37
What is the normal RBC distribution width?
11.5–14.5
What does Mean Corpuscular/Cell Volume (MCV) tell you?
It tells you the cell size/volume. Is useful differentiating the anemias into microcytic, normocytic and macrocytic.
What is the calculation for approximating MCV?
MCV= (HCT x 10)/RBC# in millions HCT = Hematocrit
What are the normal values for WBC count?
4,000 - 11,000 cells/mm3 of whole blood (mm3= 1ul).
Can vary quite a bit.
What are the normal WBC distribution values?
Neutrophils: 50 - 70% Lymphocytes: 20 - 40% Monocytes: 1 - 6% Eosinophils: 1 - 5% Basophils: up to 1%
What is Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)?
It is an expression of size distribution of the erythrocytes. Tells you how many different cell shapes are present.
What happens to RDW during most cases of anemia?
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…
What are some examples of microcytic anemia?
Fe deficiency, Thalassemia & chronic disease
What are some examples of normocytic anemia?
Bleeding, Nutritional, renal insufficiency and hemolysis. Patient history is KEY in implicating bleeding.
What are some examples of macrocytic anemia?
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.
What is neutrophilia?
A high number of neutrophils. Can be caused by acute infections, inflammation, acute hemorrhage, chronic granulocytic leukemia, and malignancy.
What is lymphocytosis?
A high number of lymphocytes. Can be caused by viral infections, toxoplasmosis, pertussis, and leukemia
What is monocytosis?
High number of monocytes. Can be caused by infections like TB, as well as cancer and inflammatory bowel disease “IBD”
What is eosinophilia?
A high number of eosinophils. Can be caused by allergies, malignancy (Hodgkin’s disease), a parasitic infection, and myeloproliferative disorders.
What is neutropenia?
A low number of neutrophils. Can be caused by brucellosis, typhoid, viruses, chemotherapy, aplastic anemia, B12 & folic acid deficiency.
What is lymphopenia?
A decreased number of lymphocytes. Can be caused by HIV, steroids, and radiation/chemotherapy.
What is Thrombocytosis?
A high number of platelets.
What are the reactive causes of Thrombocytosis?
Vigorous exercise, acute hemorrhage, infections, CANCER.
What are the autonomic causes of Thrombocytosis?
Polycythemia Vera, chronic granulocytic leukemia, myelofibrosis.
What is Thrombocytopenia?
Low platelet numbers.
What are the causes of Thrombocytopenia?
- (decreased marrow production) Aplastic anemia, chemo/RADs, B12 & folate, Leukemia
- (increased destruction/sequestration)- immune system attack, splenomegaly.
What is the normal platelet (PLT) range?
150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood.
What should you look at first if the patient looks ill?
Look at the WBC count first. (Is the WBC above 11 or below 3.5? Look at the differential for clues).
What should you look at first if the patient looks weak?
Look at Hgb and Hct first. (Is the Hgb lower than 9 or higher than 17? Look at the MCV, MCH, RDW)
What should you look at first if the patient bruises easily?
Look at platelets first. (Are the platelets lower than 120 or above 350? Look at the WBC next)
What is an important diagnostic clue about platelets (PLT) other than coagulation?
Platelets are acute phase reactants: increase during infection / inflammation.
What are low WBC, Hgb, and PLT values indicative of?
A bone marrow issue of some sort.
