Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

 
Do Not Remove This Text

Related Content


 

RBC count

Alternative Names:

Erythrocyte count; Red blood cell count

Normal Values:

Normal results vary, but in general the range is as follows:

What abnormal results mean:

Damaged RBCs do not live as long as normal. Injury inside the blood vessels, such as that caused by artificial heart valves or peripheral blood vessel disease, can damage RBCs.

Higher-than-normal numbers of RBCs may be due to:

Lower-than-normal numbers of RBCs may be due to:

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

References:

McPherson RA and Pincus MR. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 21st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2007:461-2.

Hoffman R, Benz Jr. EJ, Shattil SJ, et al., eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingston; 2005:2733.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com