Red blood cell (also known as RBC) count, also called venous count, is a measurement of the amount of variation in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) reported at one time as a result of an initial blood test.
Red blood cells are typically a standard volume of approximately 6.5 mm3. In a normal healthy person, the normal variation between normal levels of blood RBCs is usually approximately four percent of the expected range of variation over a one-week period.
A blood sample is drawn from a vein of the upper limb or upper trunk (or a vein used for other purposes, such as venipuncture, if it is needed). The vein is placed under general anesthetic to decrease the risk of harm. The vein is then inflated with an air pocket at the tip, so that the needle tip does not puncture the vein. The needle then is pushed into the vein in order to extract the blood sample.
An aliquot of this sample is sent to a laboratory. The laboratory will analyze the sample using various methods.
Some methods will detect whether there are any abnormalities in the RBCs. If a significant imbalance is found, the sample will be tested in an autoclave.
If no abnormalities are present, the sample will then be sent to the laboratory to determine an approximate value, called RDW, of the RBCs. When the RDW is determined, it is then compared to the expected range for a given sample size.
Red blood cells carry a chemical that can be detected when they are broken down by a chemical known as hemoglobin. There are three types of hemoglobin: hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCB), and mean residual hemoglobin (MRH). Hemoglobin carries oxygen molecules and makes up about 40% of the cells in the blood.
Blood cells have a tendency to stick together when they are in a large collection of cells. This allows them to form clumps. A sample of this clump will be analyzed using an ion chromatography method.
that detects changes in the concentration of oxygen in the sample and also analyzes the amount of hemoglobin in the clumps.
The RDW will then be calculated. It can be expressed in terms of RBC volume per milliliter or as follows: RDW/mmol. It can also be expressed in terms of total RBC count.
If an abnormal blood value is found, you should contact your physician right away so that he can evaluate the situation. An abnormal value is an indication of anemia (low iron in the blood). Low iron in the blood is generally indicated by an anemia. Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body’s ability to absorb iron is decreased.
In most cases, iron deficiency anemia can be treated with a daily supplement. Your physician will first do blood tests to determine if iron deficiency anemia is the cause of the problem.
If not, your physician may recommend iron supplements. However, iron supplements are not recommended for pregnant women.
The process of analyzing your sample of red blood cells can reveal the condition of your RBCs. If your RBCs are not functioning properly, you may find that the test results are abnormal, but if your blood test is normal, your doctor can use the information to determine how much iron is required to function normally.
The laboratory will test your sample of blood using a machine known as a hemochromatograph. This machine will show you the percentage of hemoglobin in your blood. Your doctor will interpret this data to determine the level of iron in your blood. Once iron levels are known, you can get an estimate of your estimated RBC count by subtracting your estimated RDW from your actual RDW.
If you have anemia, an iron supplement can help you increase the amount of red blood cells. It is also important to follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the supplements and taking iron supplements as directed.