Laboratory evaluation of Red Blood Cells Flashcards
What is in a CBC for RBC?
Erythrocyte count (RBC)
Hemoglobin (Hgb or Hb)
Hematocrit (Hct)
Red Cell Indices- go with size and volume of cells
Whats in a red cell indices?
4
go with size and volume of cells MCV MCH MCHC RDW- lot of different sizes and shapes of cells. high when there is high variation
What other kind of tests can we look at RBC besides a CBC?
3
- Morphology
- Reticulocyte count- young cells(bigger still have some nucleus)
- Bone Marrow Aspiration/Biopsy
What is a Erythrocyte count (RBC) and what are the normal values
Number red blood cells per unit volume of whole blood
Normal values
Female: 4.2 to 5.4x 106 RBCs/µL
Male: 4.7 to 6.1 x 106 RBCs/µL
When does the erythrocyte count (RBC) decrease?
3
Anemia, which can be caused by:
Hemorrhage
Sickle Cell
Dietary deficiency, i.e. iron or B-12
When can erythrocyte count increase?
5
Increased when too many are made and with fluid loss: Higher altitudes Diarrhea Dehydration Burns Pregnancy
What does Hemoglobin (Hgb or Hb) measure?
Measures concentration of hemoglobin in anticoagulated (or capillary) whole blood
Grams of Hb/100mL whole blood
g/dL
Measures the amount of oxygen-carrying protein in the blood.
Reflects the number of RBC’s
What are the normal hemoglobin values for:
newborns?
females?
males?
Normals
Newborns: 14 to 20 g/dL
Female: 12 to 16 g/dL
Male: 13.5 to 18 g/dL
In what situations does hemoglobin decrease?
7
Anemia Hemorrhage Nutritional deficiency Renal disease Cancers Pregnancy --Due to expanded blood volume Certain drugs --Antibiotics, ASA, sulfonamides
What does hemoglobin increase with?
6
Increases with Polycythemia vera COPD CHF High altitudes Severe burns Dehydration
What does our hemocrit value tell us?
Packed cell volume (%)
Percentage of the total blood volume that is made up by RBC’s
What are the normal values for hemocrit?
Normal values
Female 37 to 47%
Male 42 to 52%
What would our hemocrit decrease with?
9
Anemia Hemorrhage Dietary Deficiency Bone marrow failure Pregnancy Malnutrition Leukemia Cirrhosis Hyperthyroidism
What would our hemocrit increase with?
7
Increases with: Congential heart disease Polycythemia vera Dehydation Erythocytosis Eclampsia Burns COPD
Acute blood loss (anemia) is characterized by what?
low blood volume and low RBC
shows a normal HCT though
Chronic anemia is characterized by what?
High blood volume and low RBC levels (low HCT)
Non-anemic low hemocrit is caused by what?
volume overlaod
-normal RBC level and really high blood volume
How do we calculate Mean cell colume or MVC?
What does it measure?
MCV (fL) = (Hct/RBC) X 10
Example: MCV = (41/4.6) x 10 = 89 fL
Measure of the average volume, or size, of a single RBC