Red Cell Indices

Question 1

What is the blood volume?

Answer 1

Red cell mass + plasma mass

Question 2

What is the Hb?

Answer 2

Haemoglobin is a protein in RBCs that carries oxygen

Question 3

What is a reticulocyte count?

Answer 3

A high reticulocyte count in the blood stream would indicate an increase in the rate of production of red cells

Question 4

What is the MCV?

Answer 4

Mean corpuscular volume - measures the average size of RBCs

Question 5

What is the MCH?

Answer 5

Mean corpusclar haemoglobin - measures the average amount of hb in a single red blood cell

Question 6

What is the MCHC?

Answer 6

Mean corpuscular hb concentration - measures the hb in red cells and also includes a calculation of size and volume of rbcs

Question 7

What is the RDW?

Answer 7

Red cell distribution width - measures the differences in the volume and size of RBCs

Question 8

What are symptoms of anaemia?

Answer 8

Weakness, fatigue (TATT), pale skin, rapid heartbeat, cold hands and feet, shortness of breath