Red blood cell indices

Details about red blood cells as part of a standard blood test

Red blood cell indices

Purpose| information about the hemoglobin content and size of red blood cells

Red blood cell indices are blood tests that provide information about the hemoglobin content and size of red blood cells. Abnormal values indicate the presence of anemia and which type of anemia it is.[1]

## Mean corpuscular volume[edit]

Main article: Mean corpuscular volume

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is the average volume of a red blood cell and is calculated by dividing the hematocrit (Hct) by the concentration of red blood cell count.[citation needed]

* MCV = Hct [ RBC ] {\displaystyle {\textit {MCV}}={\frac {\textit {Hct}}{[{\textit {RBC}}]}}}
* Normal range: 80–100 fL (femtoliter)

## Mean corpuscular hemoglobin[edit]

Main article: Mean corpuscular hemoglobin

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is the average amount of hemoglobin (Hb) per red blood cell and is calculated by dividing the hemoglobin by the red blood cell count.[citation needed]

* M C H = H b R B C {\displaystyle MCH={\frac {Hb}{RBC}}}
* Normal range: 27-31 pg/cell

## Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration[edit]

Main article: Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is the average concentration of hemoglobin per unit volume of red blood cells and is calculated by dividing the hemoglobin by the hematocrit.[citation needed]

* M C H C = H b H c t {\displaystyle MCHC={\frac {Hb}{Hct}}}
* Normal range: 32-36 g/dL

## Red blood cell distribution width[edit]

Main article: Red blood cell distribution width

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW or RDW-CV or RCDW and RDW-SD) is a measure of the range of variation of red blood cell (RBC) volume, yielding clues about morphology.[citation needed]

## Erythropoietic precursor indices[edit]

Main articles: reticulocyte production index, erythropoiesis, nucleated red blood cell, and reticulocyte

The reticulocyte production index (RPI) or corrected reticulocyte count (CRC) represents the true significance of the absolute reticulocyte count to provide some reflection of erythropoietic demand and supply. The immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF) goes a step further to cast more light on the same question.[citation needed]

## Worked example[edit]

Measure  | Units  | Conventional units  | Conversion

|
|
|

Hct | 40%  |  |
Hb | 100 grams/liter  | 10 grams/deciliter  | (deci- is 10−1)
RBC | 5E+12 cells/liter  | 5E+6 cells/μL  | (micro is 10−6)
MCV = (Hct/100) / RBC  | 8E-14 liters/cell  | 80 femtoliters/cell  | (femto- is 10−15)
MCH = Hb / RBC  | 2E-11 grams/cell  | 20 picograms/cell  | (pico- is 10−12)
MCHC = Hb / (Hct/100)  | 250 grams/liter  | 25 grams/deciliter  | (deci is 10−1)

## References[edit]

1. ^ MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: R BC indices

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Hematology blood tests

Complete blood count|

* Hemoglobin
* Hematocrit
* Red blood cell count
* Red blood cell indices
* Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
* Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
* Mean corpuscular volume
* Red blood cell distribution width
* White blood cell count
* White blood cell differential
* Absolute neutrophil count
* Platelet count
* Mean platelet volume
* Reticulocyte count
* Reticulocyte index

Other tests of red blood cells|

* Fetal hemoglobin
* Apt–Downey test
* Kleihauer–Betke test
* Hemoglobinopathy testing
* Hemoglobin electrophoresis
* Sickle solubility test
* Mentzer index
* Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
* Haptoglobin
* Osmotic fragility

Coagulation|

* Clotting factors
* Prothrombin time
* Partial thromboplastin time
* Thrombin time
* Activated clotting time
* Fibrinogen
* Bleeding time
* animal enzyme
* Reptilase time
* Ecarin clotting time
* Dilute Russell's viper venom time
* Thrombin generation assay
* Calibrated automated thrombogram
* ST Genesia-based test
* Thromboelastography
* Thrombodynamics test
* Overall hemostatic potential
* Coagulation activation markers
* Prothrombin fragments 1+2
* Thrombin–antithrombin complex
* Fibrinopeptide A
* Fibrin monomers
* Activated protein C–protein C inhibitor
* Fibrinolysis
* Euglobulin lysis time
* D-Dimer
* Plasmin-α2-antiplasmin complex
* Von Willebrand factor
* Ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation
* Activated protein C resistance test
* aPTT-based activated protein C resistance test
* ETP-based activated protein C resistance test

Other|

* Blood film
* Blood viscosity
* Nitro blue tetrazolium chloride test
* Flow cytometry
* Immunophenotyping

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