RBC Indices & Anemia Flashcards
What are symptoms of anemia?
Lethargy Hypotension Tachycardia Dyspnea Pallor Palpitations
What does anemia mean?
Without blood
How do we measure anemia?
CBC
H&H
How do we classify anemia?
RBC indices
Diet
Deficiencies - B12, Fe
What are types of laboratory measures of anemia?
RBC count
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
What is the hemoglobin reference range for male adults?
14-18 g/dL
What is the hemoglobin reference range for female adults?
12-16 g/dL
What is the hematocrit reference range for males?
42-54%
What is the hematocrit reference range for females?
36-46%
How is hematocrit measured?
Packed cell volume
How is hematocrit (Hct) calculated?
RBC count & average cell size
When plasma is low, is there a high or low level of blood cells?
High
When the amount of blood cells is low, is there a high or low amount of plasma?
High
What is the formula for hematocrit?
Hemoglobin x 3 = hematocrit +/- 3
What is the hematocrit if the hemoglobin is 10?
10 x 3 = 30 +/- 3
Is this expected?
Hb = 12.5 g/dL
Hct = 37%
Yes
Is this expected?
Hb= 10 g/dL
Hct = 37%
No
What help classify RBCs?
Size & Hb content/concentration
What are calculations that are used to classify anemia?
MCV - mean cell volume
MCH - mean cell hemoglobin
MCHC - mean cell hemoglobin concentration
What is the MCV (mean cell volume) reference range?
80-100 fL
How is the MCV measured?
Measured directly by electrical impedance
How is MCV calculated/what is the formula?
MCV = Hematocrit (%) x 10 / RBC (10ˆ12/L)
What is MCV interpreted as (3 types)?
Normocytic
Microcytic
Macrocytic
What is RDW?
Red cell distribution width
What does RDW measure?
Anisocytosis
What is anisocytosis?
Cell population are different sizes
What is the normal reference range of RDW?
11.5-14.5
What does MCH stand for?
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
What does MCH measure?
Average hemoglobin per RBC
What is the reference range of MCH?
27-31 pg
What is the formula for MCH?
MCH = Hemoglobin (g/dl) x 10 / RBC (10ˆ12/L)
What does MCHC stand for?
Mean cell hemoglobin concentration
What is the reference range for MCHC?
32-36%
What is MCHC used for?
Used with MCV to classify erythrocytes
What are the classifications of erythrocytes based on MCHC?
Normochromic
Hypochromic
Hyperchromic
What is the formula for MCHC?
MCHC = Hemoglobin (g/dl) x 100 / HCT (%)
MCV - 80-100
MCHC 32-36
What are the possible causes?
Acute or chronic blood loss
Bone marrow failure
Hemolytic anemia
Leukemia
MCV - >100
MCHC - 32-36
What are the possible causes?
Megalobastic anemia
Macrocytic anemia
MCV - <32
What are the possible causes?
Iron deficiency
Thalassemia
Lead poisoning
Chronic infection
What are the possible causes of normocytic normochromic anemia?
Renal failure
Leukemia
Early iron deficiency
What size is the RBC of normocytic normochromic anemia?
Similar to the nucleus of a lymphoocyte
What are the causes of microcytic hypochromic anemia?
Iron deficiency
Thalassemia minor
Lead poisoning
What do the RBCs look like when a person has microcytic hypochromic anemia?
Cells are small
Large central pallor
What are the causes of macrocytic normochromic anemia?
Megaloblastic anemia (B12 or folate deficiency)
Alcoholism
Liver disease
In polychromasia the Wright’s stain stains what part of the cell?
RNA
In polychromasia the methylene blue stain colors the cells what color?
Blue
In peripheral blood smears what type of cells are present (shape)?
Target cells
What does poikilocytosis mean?
RBCs are different shapes
