Question

State the meaning of the red blood cell count, percentage of reticulocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration as it relates to the diagnosis of anemia.

Answer 1

Answer: Red blood cell count is a diagnostic blood test used to determine the amount of red blood cells an individual has.

Percentage of reticulocytes refers to the amount of immature red blood cells one has.

Hemoglobin is the protein component of red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen.

Hematocrit is the proportion of red blood cells in the total volume of blood.

Mean corpuscular volume refers to the mean volume of red cells within an organism.

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration refers the intracellular hemoglobin count.

Explanation: Anemia is a condition that is characterized by a reduced total hemoglobin count or number of red blood cells. Anemia can be classified according to various factors that include pathophysiology, that is the factors surrounding the onset of the condition or by cell size, which  refers to mean corpuscular volume (MCV) or by the amount hemoglobin, which is referred to as the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). The diagnosis of anemia is dependent on red blood cell counts which encompass reticulocyte, platelets and leukocyte counts. Critical blood counts that look at MCV and MCH are a disgnostic feature for the various types of the condition. A high reticulocytes percentage is often associated with anemia.