Manual Complete Blood Count Flashcards
What is hemoglobin?
The part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen
How do you perform a hemoglobin test?
- Place a wet sample on a piece of filter paper and fold it in half
- Compare color of blood to the samples on the Tallquist Scale
- Record in g/dL
What is the correction factor?
Take the average of the 2 chambers and multiply by 10,000 to arrive at the number of RBC’s per cubic mm of blood
What does the MCV, MCH and MCHC of an individual RBC indicate?
- The size and hemoglobin content inside
- MCV values reflect the size, MCH and MCHC reflect hemoglobin concentration
How do you determine the average volume of the individual erythrocyte (MCV)?
PCV x 10/RBC Count = MCV
How do you determine the amount of hemoglobin by weight in the average erythrocyte (MCH)?
Hemoglobin x 10/RBC Count = MCH
How do you determine the amount of concentration of hemoglobin in the average erythrocyte (MCHC)?
Hemoglobin x 100/PCV = MCHC
What is anemia?
The decreased ability of the red blood cells to provide adequate oxygen supplies to the body’s tissues
What may anemia be caused by?
Decreased number of red blood cells, decreased volume of red blood cells, or decreased amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells
How are anemias classified?
On the basis of cell size (MCV) and the amount of hemoglobin (MCH)
What is normocytic?
MCV within normal range
What is microcytic?
MCV with less than lower limit of normal
What is macrocytic?
MCV greater than upper limit of normal
What is normochromic?
MCH within normal range
What is hypochromic?
MCH with less than lower limit of normal
What is hyperchromic?
MCH with greater than upper limit of normal
How can an anemia most often caused by acute blood loss be classified?
MCV, MCH, MCHCH normal or normocytic, normochromic anemia
How can an anemia most often caused by iron deficiency be classified?
Decreased MCV, MCH and MCHC or microcytic, hypochromic anemia
How can an anemia most often caused by Vitamin B12 deficiency and folic acid deficiency?
- Increased MCV, variable MCH and MCHC or macrocytic anemia
- Can also be caused by too many immature RBC’s
What is the correction factor for RBC’s diluted at a 1:200 ratio?
200 x 5 x 10 = 10,000 x average red blood cells
