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Complete Blood Count (CBC)

(continued)

Results continued...

 

Hematocrit (HCT)
Men:

42%–52% or 0.42–0.52 volume fraction (SI units)

Women:

37%–47% or 0.37–0.47 volume fraction

Pregnant women:

1st trimester: 35%–46%

2nd trimester: 30%–42%

3rd trimester: 34%–44%

Postpartum: 30%–44%

Children:

32%–44%

Newborns:

44%–64%

 

Hemoglobin (Hgb)
Men:

14–18 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or 8.7–11.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) (SI units)

Women:

12–16 g/dL or 7.4–9.9 mmol/L

Pregnant women:

1st trimester: 11.4–15.0 g/dL or 7.1–9.3 mmol/L

2nd trimester: 10.0–14.3 g/dL or 6.2–8.9 mmol/L

3rd trimester: 10.2–14.4 g/dL or 6.3–8.9 mmol/L

Postpartum: 10.4–18.0 g/dL or 6.4–9.3 mmol/L

Children:

9.5–15.5 g/dL

Newborn:

14–24 g/dL

In general, a normal hemoglobin level is about one-third the value of the hematocrit.

 

Red blood cell indices
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV):

82–98 femtoliters (fL)

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH):

26–34 picograms (pg)

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC):

31–38 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or 31%–38%

 

Red cell distribution width (RDW)
Normal:

11.5%–14.6%

 

Platelet (thrombocyte) count
Normal:

Children: 150,000–450,000 platelets per mm3 or 150–450 x 109 /liter (SI units)

Adults: 150,000–400,000 platelets per mm3 or 150–400 x 109 /liter (SI units)

 

Mean platelet volume (MPV)
Normal:

Children: 7.4–10.4 mcm3 or 7.4–10.4 fL

Adults: 7.4–10.4 mcm3 or 7.4–10.4 fL

 

Blood smear
Normal:

Blood cells are normal in shape, size, color, and number.

 

High values

Red blood cell (RBC)

  • Conditions that cause high RBC values include smoking, exposure to carbon monoxide, long-term lung disease, kidney disease, some cancers, certain forms of heart disease, alcoholism, liver disease, a rare disorder of the bone marrow (polycythemia vera), or a rare disorder of hemoglobin that binds oxygen tightly.
  • Conditions that affect the body's water content can also cause high RBC values. These conditions include dehydration, diarrhea or vomiting, excessive sweating, severe burns, and the use of diuretics. The lack of fluid in the body makes the RBC volume look high; this is sometimes called spurious polycythemia.

White blood cell (WBC, leukocyte)

Platelets

  • High platelet values may be seen with bleeding, iron deficiency, some diseases like cancer, or problems with the bone marrow.

Low values

Red blood cell (RBC)

White blood cell (WBC, leukocyte)

Platelets

  • Low platelet values can occur in pregnancy or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and other conditions that affect how platelets are made or that destroy platelets.
  • A large spleen can lower the platelet count.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: September 12, 2008
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.
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