
It may also signify internal bleeding, kidney disease or malnutrition (where a person's diet does not contain enough nutrients to meet their body's needs). The results of an RBC count can be used to help diagnose blood-related conditions, such as iron deficiency anaemia (where there are less red blood cells than normal).Ī low RBC count could also indicate a vitamin B6, B12 or folate deficiency. The normal ranges are a guide and can vary between different hospital laboratories. Women usually have a lower RBC count than men, and the level of red blood cells tends to decrease with age. The amount of oxygen that's delivered to your body's tissues depends on the number of red blood cells you have and how well they work.Īn RBC count is usually carried out as part of a full blood cell (FBC) count. Red blood cells contain a substance called haemoglobin, which transports oxygen around the body. A red blood cell (RBC) count is a blood test that tells you how many red blood cells you have. Understanding the Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count 2020 Jul 22. Gainesville (FL): University of Florida Health c2021. Low hemoglobin levels may be a symptom of several conditions, including different kinds of anemia and cancer. If you have a condition that affects your body’s ability to make red blood cells, your hemoglobin levels may drop. Your red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. UF Health: University of Florida Health. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells.UF Health: University of Florida Health.Increased blood viscosity can be caused by an increase in red cell mass or increased red cell deformity, increased plasma levels of fibrinogen and coagulation factors, and dehydration. The technique is discussed in detail by Clark et al. Gainesville (FL): University of Florida Health c2021. Plasma viscosity is higher in patients undergoing acute cardiovascular events such as stroke, MI, or sudden cardiac death (17,25,167,168). Osmotic gradient ektacytometry as a tool to measure red blood cell (RBC) deformability. Health Encyclopedia: Red Blood Cell Count. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Medical Center c2021. University of Rochester Medical Center.Department of Health and Human Services Blood Tests.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins c2014. Brunner & Suddarth's Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. Washington D.C.: American Society of Hematology c2021.
