Deciding what is normal and interpreting a blood count

Question 1

What affects what is normal?

Answer 1

Age
Gender
Ethnic origin
Physiological status
Altitude
Nutritional status
Cigarette smoking and alcohol intake

Question 2

What is normal distribution known as?

Answer 2

Gaussian

Question 3

What sort of distribution does Hb and WBC show?

Answer 3

Hb- Gaussian

WBC- Non-Gaussian

Question 4

What is packed cell volume and haematocrit measured in?

Answer 4

l/l

Question 5

What is mean cell volume measured in?

Answer 5

fl

Question 6

What is mean cell haemoglobin measured in?

Answer 6

pg

Question 7

What is the definition for mean cell haemoglobin?

Answer 7

Amount of haemoglobin in a given volume of blood divided by number of red cells in same volume- Hb divided by RBC

Question 8

What is the definition for mean cell haemoglobin concentration?

Answer 8

Amount of haemoglobin in a given volume of blood divided by the proportion of the sample represented by the red cells- Hb divided by PCV or haematocrit

Question 9

What is the difference between MCH and MCHC?

Answer 9

MCH is absolute amount of haemoglobin in an individual red cell
MCHC is concentration of haemoglobin in a red cell- related to shape of cell

Question 10

How is MCHC measured?

Answer 10

Electronically using light scattering