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RBC indices - Results

Alternative Names

Erythrocyte indices; Blood indices; Red cell mass measurement; Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH); Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC); Mean corpuscular volume (MCV); Red blood cell indices

Normal Values:

MCV: 80 to 100 femtoliter
MCH: 27 to 31 picograms/cell
MCHC: 32 to 36 grams/deciliter

Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What abnormal results mean:

This test is used to diagnose the cause of anemia. The following are the types of anemia and their causes:

Normocytic/normochromic (NC/NC) anemia is caused by sudden blood loss, prosthetic heart valves, sepsis, tumor, long-term disease or aplastic anemia.
Microcytic/hypochromic anemia is caused by iron deficiency, lead poisoning, or thalassemia.
Microcytic/normochromic anemia results from a lack (deficiency) of the hormone erythropoietin from kidney failure.
Macrocytic/normochromic anemia results from chemotherapy, folate deficiency, or vitamin B-12 deficiency.

Reviewed last on: 2/13/2009
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Zuckerman K. Approach to the anemias. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 162.

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