Question

1. State the normal ranges and discuss the clinical importance of:

Total RBC count, -

Total WBC count,

Hematocrit (Hct)

Answer 1

1) TOTAL RBC COUNT

RBC-Red blood cell

Normal value-

• Males: 5.0-6.0 million/microliter.
• Females : 4.5 - 5.5 million/microliter.
• Children :4.0-5.0 million/microliter.

Clinical importance

1. Total RBC count increase in

• Polycythemia.

2. Total RBC count decrease in

• Anaemia.

2) TOTAL WBC COUNT

WBC-white blood cell

Normal value

• Adults : 4000-11000/microliter.
• Infant at birth :10000 - 26000/microliter.
• Children under 1 year: 6000-18000/microliter.

Clinical importance:

1) Total WBC increase in

Acute infection.

inflammation.

2)Total WBC decrease in

steroid administration.

AIDS.

3) Haematocrit or Packed Cell Volume

Packed Cell Volume or Haematocrit defined as ratio of volume of RBC to that of whole blood and is expressed as percentage.

Normal Range: approximately

MEN: 45% to 52%

WOMEN :37% to 48%

a) Disease causing raised PCV

• Polycythaemia.
• shock.
• burns.
• Dehydration due to severe vomitings,diarrhoea.

b) Disease causing low PCV

• Anaemia.
• Pregnancy.

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