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Anemia CBC Data Interpretation

Mar 24, 20252 min read

Definition of Anemia

  • Reduction of red cell volume or hemoglobin concentration below the range of normal values for age.
  • Lack of (or impaired) RBCs in the body, resulting in a decreased flow of oxygen to the organs. It is marked by one of the following:
    • Hematocrit <41% in men or <36% in women
    • Hemoglobin <13.5 g/dL in men or <12 g/dL in women

Classification

I. Aetiological II. Morphological

Aetiological Classification

  1. Due to inadequate production
  2. Due to blood loss
  3. Due to increased destruction

Morphological Classification

  • MCV
    • Microcytic
      • MCV < 80
    • Normocytic
      • 80 < MCV < 100
    • Macrocytic
      • MCV > 100

Laboratory DiagnosisZ

  1. HB level and RBC’s count

  2. Hematocrit; or packed RBC’s volume (the ratio of the volume of RBC’s to the volume of whole blood)

  3. Red blood cells indices:
    Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) =
    (Ht/ RBC’s count = normal 75-100 fimitoliter)

    • If >100 → macrocytic anaemia

    • If <75 → microcytic anaemia

    • If 75-100 → normocytic anaemia

    • Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH):
      Average quantity of HB per individual red cell
      (HB/RBC’s count Normal 26-32 picogram)

    • Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC):

      • Average concentration of HB in a volume of packet RBC’s =
      • HB/Hematocrit =
      • Normal 32-36 %

    • Both MCH and MCHC are used to determine the content of HB in RBC’s.

      • A. If normal MCH and MCHC =
        - Normocytic anaemia
      • B. If low MCH and MCHC =
        - Hypochromic anaemia

  4. Peripheral blood smear (film)

  5. Reticulocytes count

MCV < 80

Microcytic Anemia

  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • Anemia of chronic disease
  • Sideroblastic anemia
  • Thalassemia trait

MCV 80–100

Check Reticulocyte Count

MCV > 100

Macrocytic Anemia

  • Reticulocytosis (acute hemolysis)
  • Alcoholism
  • Drugs (AZT, phenytoin)

Megaloblastic Anemia

  • Macrocytosis + hypersegmented neutrophils
  • Folic acid deficiency
  • Vitamin B12 deficiency

Data Interpretation

  • Orange Box
  • Gray Box
  • Blue Circle

Sample CBC

  • WBC: 4.5 to 11.0 x 10^9/L
  • RBC:
    • 4.7 - 6.1 x 10^12/L
    • 4.2 to 5.4 x 10^12/L
  • HGB:
    • 13.8 to 17.2 gm/DL (M)
    • 12.1 to 15.1 gm/DL (F)
  • HCT:
    • 40.7% to 50.3% (M)
    • 36.1% to 44.3% (F)
  • MCV: 80 to 95 femtoliter
  • MCH: 27 to 31 pg/cel
  • MCHC: 32 to 36 gm/dL
  • PLT: 150,000 to …

Differential

  • Segs: 48% (51-72%)
  • Lymphs: 40% (8-35%)
  • Monos: 6% (1-9%)
  • Eos: 4% (0-9%)
  • Baso: 2% (0-2%)

Graph View

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