CBC:
A- Red blood cell data:
- Total red blood cell count (RBC): Count of the number of circulating red blood cells in 1mm3 of peripheral venous blood (M=4-5.5 M; F:4-5 M)
- Hemoglobin (Hgb)
- Hematocrit (Hct)
- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
Hemoglobin concentration: Male 14–18 g/dL : Female 12–16 g/dL Is a measure of the amount of Hgb in the peripheral blood, which reflects the number of red blood cells in the blood. Hgb constitutes over 90% of the red blood cells
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Decrease in Hgb concentration = anemia
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Increase in Hgb concentration = Polycythemia
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Normocytic: hemoglobin levels are decrease but RBC size is normal (acute blood loss, anemia of chronic disease. )
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Microcytic: insufficiency of hemoglobin synthesis … (iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia)
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Macrocytic: deficiency of … vitamin B12 (Pernicious anaemia) or folic acid (hypothyroidism, alcoholism)
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Sickle cell anemia: alteration in hemoglobin structure
Hematocrit: Normal: Men 41% - 50%; Women is 36% - 48%.
Is a measure of the percentage of the total blood volume that is made up by the red blood cells The hematocrit can be determined directly by centrifugation (“spun hematocrit”) The height of the red blood cell column is measured and compared to the column of the whole blood
Calculating the Hematocrit More commonly the Hct is calculated directly from the RBC and MCV
Hematocrit % = RBC (cells/liter) x MCV (liter/cell)
- A high haematocrit level might mean dehydrated.
- A low haematocrit level might mean have anaemia.
- Abnormal haematocrit levels also may be a sign of a blood or bone marrow disorder.
Mean Corpuscular Volume: (80 to 100 fL= Femtolitres) The MCV is a measure of the average volume, or size, of an RBC It is determined by the distribution of the red blood cell histogram The mean of the red blood cell distribution histogram is the MCV
Use of MCV Result: The MCV is important in classifying anemias
- Normal MCV = normocytic anemia
- Decreased MCV = microcytic anemia
- Increased MCV = macrocytic anemia
B- White blood cell data:
- Total white blood cell (leukocyte) count (WBC)
- A white blood cell count differential may also be ordered
Total WBC:** or leukocyte, count in 1mm3 of peripheral blood 4,500 to 11,000 per cumm (4.5 to 11.0 Ă— 109/L)
- A decrease in the number of WBCs = Leukopenia
- An increase in the number of WBCs = Leukocytosis
WBC Differential: The percentage of each type of leukocyte present in a specimen is measured.
Name the types of leukocytes
- Neutrophils (includes bands)
- Lymphocytes
- Monocytes
- Eosinophils
- Basophils
Absolute numbers (#) of various cell types are calculated by multiplying the percentage (%) of the white cell by the total WBC
C- Platelet Count (PLT):
A count of the number of platelets (thrombocytes) per cubic milliliter of blood
- A decreased number of platelets = Thrombocytopenia
- An increased number of platelets = Thrombocytosis
DIFF TYPE AUTOMATED
| # | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LYMPH | 3.6 | 1.0 | 4.0 | K/MM3 |
| MONO | 0.6 | 0.0 | 1.0 | K/MM3 |
| GRAN | 5.1 | 2.0 | 7.0 | K/MM3 |
| EO | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | K/MM3 |
| BASO | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | K/MM3 |
| LYMPH | 39 | 20 | 45 | % |
| MONO | 6 | 0 | 10 | % |
| GRAN | 55 | 45 | 70 | % |
| EO | 0 | 0 | 7 | % |
| BASO | 0 | 0 | 2 | % |
For eg. there are 39% lymphoctyes. The total number of WBC is 9,400 (see CBC) 9,400 x 0.39 = 3,666 Therefore, the absolute lymphocyte count is 3.6 K/MM3
CBC
| WBC | 19.5 | [4.0-10.0] k/ul |
| RBC | 3.49 | [3.60-5.50] m/ul |
| Hgb | 10.4 | [12.0-16.0] gm/dl |
| Hct | 31.2 | [34.0-51.0] % |
| MCV | 82 | [85-95] fl |
| MCH | 28.3 | [28.0-32.0] pg |
| MCHC | 33.3 | [32.0-36.0] gm/dl |
| RDW | 16.6 | [11.0-15.0] % |
| Plt Count | 98 | [150-400] k/ul |
CBC demonstrates:
- Leukocytosis,
- Microcytic anemia and
- Thrombocytopenia (RWD= Red cell distribution width)
Interpreting the CBC: If the neutrophils are causing the leukocytosis, compare the neutrophil % to total WBC.
- The % neutrophils indicates the severity of the infection;
- The total WBC reflects the quality of the immune system
