Red Blood Cell Indices
From Health Facts
Latest Edit: Iva Lloyd, ND 2023-03-27 (EDT)
| See Also | Lab Tests |
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The RBC indices provide information about the size, weight and hemoglobin concentration of RBCs. These tests are part of the complete blood count and is useful in clarifying the specific type of anemia that may be present.[1], [2]
Discussion
The red blood cell indices include:
- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a measure of the average volume, or size, of a single RBC.
- High levels indicate: pernicious anemia (vitamin B12 deficiency), Folic acid deficiency, antimetabolite therapy, alcoholism, chronic liver disease.
- Low levels indicate: iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, anemia of chronic disease, internal bleeding
- Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is a measure of the average weight of hemoglobin.
- High levels indicate: macrocytic anemia, hypochlorhydria
- Low levels indicate: microcytic anemia, hypochromic anemia, internal bleeding, heavy metal body burden, Vitamin C need
- Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is a measure of the average concentration or percentage of hemoglobin within a single RBC.
- High levels indicate: spherocytosis, intravascular hemolysis, cold agglutinins.
- Low levels indicate: iron-deficiency anemia, thalassemia, heavy metal body burden, Vitamin C need
- Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW) is an indication of the variation in RBC size.
- High levels indicate: iron-deficiency anemia, B12 vitamin or folate-deficiency anemia, hemoglobinopathies, hemolytic anemias, posthemorrhagic anemias.
- Low levels indicate: childhood diseases (measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox), acute or chronic bacterial infection, inflammation
Patient Preparation
- Fasting is not required for this test.
Interfering Factors:
- Abnormal RBC size may affect the MCH and the MCHC.
- Extremely elevated WBC counts may increase the MCV and MCH indices.
- Marked elevation in lipid levels may falsely increase MCV, MCHC and MCH levels.
- Drugs that may cause increase levels include zidovudine, phenytoin and azathioprine.
Associated Tests
A red blood cell indices test is typically part of a complete blood count which includes hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cell count.
References
- ↑ Pagana Kathleen D, Pagana Timothy J (2006) Mosby's Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, Mosby.
- ↑ Weatherby Dicken, Ferguson Scott (2002) Blood Chemistry and CBC Analysis: Clinical Laboratory Testing from a Functional Perspective, Bear Mountain.
