Red Blood Cell Disorders Introduction

Red Blood Cell Normal Indices

Diameter 7.5microns

	Male	Female	Unit
Hemoglobin	13.5	12.5	Gm/dl
Hematocrit Hct	39-49	33-43	%
RBC count	4.2-5.6	3.8-5.0	Million/microlitre
Reticulocyte count	0.5-1.5		%
MCV	80-100		femtolitre
MCHC	33-35		Gm/dl
MCH	28-34		picogram
RDW	11.5-14.5

Mean cell volume (MCV): the average volume per red cell, expressed in femtoliters (cubic microns)

Mean cell hemoglobin (MCH): the average content (mass) of hemoglobin per red cell, expressed in picograms

Mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC): the average concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of packed red cells, expressed in grams per deciliter

Red cell distribution width (RDW): the coefficient of variation of red cell volume.

Polychromasia - RBCs of different colors

Anisocytosis - … different sizes

Poikilocytosis - … different shapes

Schistocytes - RBCs fragments

Echinocytes(burr cells) - RBCs with regular projections, seen in Renal disease

Acanthocytes(spur cells) - RBCs with irregular margins , seen in Liver disease

RBC Disorders

Anemias

Polycythemias

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