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What Does The Following CBC Test Result Indicate?

Posted on Fri, 29 Jul 2016

Question: I recently had CBC test, my Red Blood Cell count is 5.12 and I'm told is high, my RDW is 16.3 also high. My Hemoglobin, MCHC, MCHC and MCW are low. What does all this mean and what can I do to fix it?

Answered by Dr. Shailja Puri (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Low Hb, MCV,MCH,MCHC and high RDW suggestive of iron deficiency anemia.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query on HealthcareMagic.

A high RDW suggests variation in sizes of red blood cells.
Low hemoglobin (Hb) is suggestive of anemia and low MCV, MCH and MCHC are suggestive of microcytic or small sized anemia.
Microcytic red blod cells are seen in iron deficiency states.
So, you may take take up iron levels in blood.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Shailja Puri (1 hour later)

Hello,
My Red Blood Cell count is 5.12 and I'm told is high, what does this mean and how can I fix it?

Answered by Dr. Shailja Puri (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Increase in red blood cell count is probably compensatory mechanism.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome again,

The increase in red blood cell count is probably a compensatory mechanism to overcome the effects of anemia or low hemoglobin.

There is nothing to worry since increase is only mild and it will get corrected once your anemia is corrected (it's inter-related with the anemia).

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee