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Hema I Chapter 11 - RBC Indices

The document defines and discusses red blood cell indices including mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW). It provides normal values for each index and explains how they are used to classify anemias and detect abnormalities. Formulas are given for calculating each index value from measurements of hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and red blood cell count.

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Sitra Zekeriya
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79 views13 pages

Hema I Chapter 11 - RBC Indices

The document defines and discusses red blood cell indices including mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW). It provides normal values for each index and explains how they are used to classify anemias and detect abnormalities. Formulas are given for calculating each index value from measurements of hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and red blood cell count.

Uploaded by

Sitra Zekeriya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER 11: RED

CELL INDICES
Objectives

At the end of this chapter, the student will be able to:


 Define MCV, MCH and MCHC.
 Explain the purpose of calculating the red cell indices
 Calculate MCV, MCH and MCHC values from given
values
 Define RDW
 Discuss the clinical significance of RDW
11.1. Introduction
 The red cell indices: are absolute values calculated from:
 the measured hemoglobin
 PCV
 RBC count
 are of considerable clinical importance in the diagnosis and
classification of anemias
Introduction cont’d

 The red cell indices include


 Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
 Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
 Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
(MCHC)
 Red cell distribution width (RDW) is another important
red cell parameter obtained by electronic methods
 RDW measures the variation in size of the red blood
cells (degree of anisocytosis)
 It must be remembered that the red cell count has the
greatest potential error and must be performed with
extreme care preferably using an electronic counter
11.2.The Mean Cell Volume (MCV)

 Is the average volume of a red cell expressed in femto


litres (fL)
 Femtoliter is 10-15 of a liter
 MCV is obtained by dividing the PCV by red cell number

 MCV (fl) = PCV (l/l)


No. of RBC/L
Example: PCV = 0.45(l/l)
RBC = 5  1012/l
MCV = 0.45 (l/l) = 90  10-15 = 90fl
5  1012
Interpretation

Normal Values
 Men and Women: 80-100 fl
 MCV
 increased in
 macrocytic anemias

 decreased in
 iron deficiency anemia

 Thalassemia

 microcytic anemia
11.3. The Mean Cell Hemoglobin (MCH)

 is the average amount of hemoglobin per individual red


cell expressed in picograms (pg).

 It is given by:
MCH (Pg) = Hb (g/L)
RBC/L
 Example: Hb conc. = 150g/L
RBC = 5  1012/L

MCH (pg) = 150 = 30  10-12 = 30pg


5  1012
Interpretation

 Normal Value: Men and women: 27-31 pg.

 MCH is increased in
 macrocytic anemia
 MCH is decreased in - microcytic anemia
- iron deficiency anemia
11.4 The Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration
(MCHC)

 -Is the average hemoglobin per unit volume of red cells.

MCHC (g/l) = Hb (g/L)


PCV (L/L)

 Example: Hb conc. = 148g/L


PCV = 0.45 (L/L)

MCHC = 148 = 328g/L


0.45
Interpretation

 Normal Values: Men and women: 32-36 % (320-360


g/L)
 MCHC is increased in some cases of hereditary
spherocytosis
 MCHC is decreased in iron deficiency anemia
11.5. Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)

 Another index, the red cell distribution width (RDW), is


specifically designed to reflect the variability of red cell size.
 It is based on the width of the red blood cell volume distribution
curve
 Measures in size variability (anisocytosis).
 larger values of RDW indicate greater variability.

 An elevated RDW may be an early sign of iron-deficiency


anemia
RDW cont’d

 In the Coulter Model S plus, for example, a red cell


histogram is plotted and the RDW(%) is defined as the
coefficient of variation of the MCV:
RDW (%) = SD of MCV x 100
Mean MCV
 The reference range for RDW is from 11.5% to 15%, but
varies with the instrument used.
Review Questions

1. Define: MCV, MCH, MCHC, and RDW.


2. What is the purpose of calculating the red cell indices?
3. A complete blood count was performed for a patient and
the following profiles were recorded:
WBC= 8,000/mm3
PCV = 50%
Hb = 15g/dl
RBC count = 5 x 106/mm3
 Calculate the MCV, MCH and MCHC values for the
patient. Interpret your results in the light of the normal
values for these indices.

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