Common Tests

Question 1

Hemoglobin

Answer 1

Iron containing molecule within the RBC that carry oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues
Measured using Drabkin reagent

Question 2

CBC

Answer 2

Enumeration of cellular elements (RBC, WBC, PLT)
Quantitation of hemoglobin (HGB) and hematocrit (HCT)
Statistical analyses which provides a snapshot of cell appearances

Question 3

Hematocrit

Answer 3

Also called packed cell volume (PCV)
Ratio of Volume of packed RBCs to the volume of whole blood
POC testing i-STAT and Epoc
Normal range 37-52%

Question 4

MCV

Answer 4

Average volume of the RBC
RBC diameter on a wright stained blood film
Measured in fentoliters (fL)
MCV = (HCT x 10)/(RBC count)
Reference interval 80-100 fL

Question 5

MCH

Answer 5

Average weight of hemoglobin in a RBC
Mass of hemoglobin per cell
Measured in pictograms (pg)
Parallels the MCHC
MCH = (HGB x 10) / RBC count
Reference interval is 26-32 pg

Question 6

MCHC

Answer 6

Average concentration of hemoglobin in each individual RBC
RBC staining intensity and the amount of central pallor
Measured in grams per deciliter (g/dL)
MCHC = (HGB x100) / HCT(%)
Ranges:
Normochromic: 32-36
Hypochromic: <32
Hyperchromic: >36

Question 7

RDW

Answer 7

Expresses the degree of variation RBC volume/size
Used to help classify anemia
RDW = (SD of RBC Volume x 100) / MCV
Normal Range: 11-15
anisocytosis : increased RDW

Question 8

MPV

Answer 8

Mean Platelet Volume