How to interpret laboratory data:CBC -1

Decrease	Increase	Normal ranges		CBC item
		SI	Conventional
anemia of all types, particularly iron deficiency anemia blood loss, hemolysis, pregnancy, Fluid replacement increased fluid intake.	polycythemia vera chronic obstructive lung disease chronic smokers regular vigorous exercise Live at high altitudes.	8.7-11.2 mmol/L 7.4-9.9 mmol/L	Male: 14-18g/dl Female: 12-16g/dl	Hemoglobin(Hgb) carrying compound found in the RBCs
all types of anemias, blood loss, hemolysis, pregnancy, cirrhosis, hyperthyroidism, leukemia	Same as Hgb Dehydration Shock	0.39-0.50 0.33-0.45	Male: 39%-50% Female: 33%-45%	Hematocrit (Hct) = (packed cell volume (PCV)) the volume of blood that is occupied by RBCs
Anemias, lymphomas, leukemia. After puberty, females have lower RBCs and Hgb due to menstrual bleeding.	Erythrocytosis Polycythemia vera, high altitudes strenuous exercise	4.2-5.9 × 1012 cells/L 3.5-5.5 × 1012 cells/L	Male: 4.2-5.9 × 106 cells/mm3 Female: 3.5-5.5 × 106 cells/mm3	Red Blood Cell serve to transport oxygen from the lungs to the body tissue
Microcytic iron deficiency anemia, hemolytic anemia, lead poisoning, thalassemia	Macrocytic folate deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, alcoholism, chronic liver disease, hypothyroidism, anorexia, use of medications such as valproic acid zidovudine stavudine antimetabolites	76-100 fL	76-100 μm3/cell	Mean Cell Volume(MCV) The average volume of the erythrocyte
Hypochromic iron deficiency anemia	Hyperchromic folate or vitamin B12 deficiency. In hyperlipidemia patients, falsely elevated in specimen turbidity	26-34 pg/cell	26-34 pg/cell	Mean Cell Hemoglobin(MCH) the average weight of hemoglobin in the RBC
iron deficiency anemia, hemolytic anemia, lead poisoning, Thalassemia	hereditary spherocytosis hemolytic disorder with marked heterogeneity of clinical features, ranging from an asymptomatic condition to fulminant hemolytic anemia.	320-370 g/L	32-37 g/dL	Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration(MCHC) average hemoglobin concentration in the RBC
Reticulocytopenia infectious causes, alcoholism, renal disease (from decreased erythropoietin), toxins, untreated iron deficiency Anemia, Drug-induced bone marrow suppression	Reticulocytosis Hemolytic anemia, hemorrhage, Sickle cell disease. Indicative of response to treatment of anemias secondary to iron, vitamin B12,or folate deficiency.	0.001-0.025 RBC	0.1%-2.5% of RBC	Reticulocytes Immature RBCs formed in the bone marrow.