Test

What Does This

Test Do?

Red blood cell (RBC), Counts all the RBCs,

white blood cell (WBC), WBCs, and platelets in a
and platelet count
sample of blood. Gives
information about the
size, shape, and physical
characteristics of the
blood cells.

Hemoglobin

Hematocrit

Mean corpuscular
volume (MCV)

Mean corpuscular
Hemoglobin (MCH)

What Clues Does It

Reveal About
Possible Anemia?

A lower than normal

number
of
RBCs
suggests
anemia.
Specific changes in
number, size, or shape.
point to whether the
anemia is
caused
by
less
production, more
destruction, or loss of
RBCs
Measures the amount of A
low
level
of
oxygen-carrying protein hemoglobin points to
in the blood.
diseases (such as irondeficiency anemia) that
usually cause the body
to make too few RBCs
Measures how much
A low hematocrit level
space RBCs take up in
points to anemia. An
your blood.
abnormal
hematocrit
level also may be a sign
of a blood or bone
marrow disorder.
Measures the average RBC size gives a clue to
size of RBCs
the type of anemia.
Larger than normal
RBCs may suggest
pernicious
anemia
caused by vitamin B12
or folate
deficiency. Smaller than
normal RBCs suggest
iron-deficiency anemia
or thalassemia (a rare,
inherited anemia).
Calculates the average
Mirrors MCV results:
amount of oxygenLarger than
carrying hemoglobin
normal RBCs have
inside an RBC.
more oxygencarrying hemoglobin;

Mean corpuscular
Hemoglobin
concentration (MCHC)

Calculates average
concentration of
hemoglobin inside an
RBC.

Red cell distribution

width

Calculates the difference

in size of RBCs

Blood smear Shows

size, shape, and number

of RBCs, WBCs, and
platelets. Used when
complete blood count
results are abnormal
Measures the number of
young RBCs in the
blood. Shows whether
the bone marrow is
making enough RBCs at
the correct rate or at a
higher rate in an
appropriate response to
the anemia

Reticulocyte count

Serum iron

Measures
the
total
amount of iron in the
blood.

Total iron-binding
Capacity (TIBC)

Measures
the
total
amount of iron that can
be bound by transferrin
Shows the percentage of
transferrin
that
is
saturated with iron. It is
calculated using results
of serum iron,

Transferrin saturation

smaller than
normal RBCs often
have less
Abnormal values may
offer clues to
the type of anemia or
other
possible
conditions
Amount of difference in
size may suggest the
body is trying to make
new RBCs to correct the
anemia or may suggest
a cause for the anemia.
The
presence
of
abnormal or immature
blood cells can point to
possible causes for the
anemia.
A markedly higher
reticulocyte count may
point
to
hemolytic
anemia. A
lower reticulocyte count
can point to irondeficiency
anemia,
pernicious
anemia, aplastic anemia,
or other
anemias caused by
reduced
RBC
production.
Abnormal results on
these tests can point to
iron-deficiency anemia.
Abnormal results on
these tests can point to
iron-deficiency anemia.
Abnormal results on
these tests can point to
iron-deficiency anemia

Serum ferritin

TIBC, and UIBC tests

Looks for antibodies
directed against RBCs

A positive result points

to the presence of
antibodies
(proteins
made by the immune
system). These results
can point to hemolytic
anemia