This means "relative distribution width". It has no diagnostic value.
A lower RDW is normal. Diseases, such as myelodysplastic syndrome or even acute blood loss can increase it.
The CBC is used as a broad screening test to check for such disorders as anemia, infection, and many other diseases. It is actually a panel of tests that examines different parts of the blood and includes the following: * White blood cell (WBC) count is a count of the actual number of white blood cells per volume of blood. Both increases and decreases can be significant. * White blood cell differential looks at the types of white blood cells present. There are five different types of white blood cells, each with its own function in protecting us from infection. The differential classifies a person's white blood cells into each type: neutrophils (also known as segs, PMNs, granulocytes, grans), lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. * Red blood cell (RBC) count is a count of the actual number of red blood cells per volume of blood. Both increases and decreases can point to abnormal conditions. * Hemoglobin measures the amount of oxygen-carrying protein in the blood. * Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in a given volume of whole blood. * The platelet count is the number of platelets in a given volume of blood. Both increases and decreases can point to abnormal conditions of excess bleeding or clotting. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a machine-calculated measurement of the average size of your platelets. New platelets are larger, and an increased MPV occurs when increased numbers of platelets are being produced. MPV gives your doctor information about platelet production in your bone marrow. * Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a measurement of the average size of your RBCs. The MCV is elevated when your RBCs are larger than normal (macrocytic), for example in anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. When the MCV is decreased, your RBCs are smaller than normal (microcytic) as is seen in iron deficiency anemia or thalassemias. * Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is a calculation of the average amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin inside a red blood cell. Macrocytic RBCs are large so tend to have a higher MCH, while microcytic red cells would have a lower value. * Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is a calculation of the average concentration of hemoglobin inside a red cell. Decreased MCHC values (hypochromia) are seen in conditions where the hemoglobin is abnormally diluted inside the red cells, such as in iron deficiency anemia and in thalassemia. Increased MCHC values (hyperchromia) are seen in conditions where the hemoglobin is abnormally concentrated inside the red cells, such as in burn patients and hereditary spherocytosis, a relatively rare congenital disorder. * Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a calculation of the variation in the size of your RBCs. In some anemias, such as pernicious anemia, the amount of variation (anisocytosis) in RBC size (along with variation in shape - poikilocytosis) causes an increase in the RDW. The CBC is used as a broad screening test to check for such disorders as anemia, infection, and many other diseases. It is actually a panel of tests that examines different parts of the blood and includes the following: * White blood cell (WBC) count is a count of the actual number of white blood cells per volume of blood. Both increases and decreases can be significant. * White blood cell differential looks at the types of white blood cells present. There are five different types of white blood cells, each with its own function in protecting us from infection. The differential classifies a person's white blood cells into each type: neutrophils (also known as segs, PMNs, granulocytes, grans), lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. * Red blood cell (RBC) count is a count of the actual number of red blood cells per volume of blood. Both increases and decreases can point to abnormal conditions. * Hemoglobin measures the amount of oxygen-carrying protein in the blood. * Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in a given volume of whole blood. * The platelet count is the number of platelets in a given volume of blood. Both increases and decreases can point to abnormal conditions of excess bleeding or clotting. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a machine-calculated measurement of the average size of your platelets. New platelets are larger, and an increased MPV occurs when increased numbers of platelets are being produced. MPV gives your doctor information about platelet production in your bone marrow. * Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a measurement of the average size of your RBCs. The MCV is elevated when your RBCs are larger than normal (macrocytic), for example in anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. When the MCV is decreased, your RBCs are smaller than normal (microcytic) as is seen in iron deficiency anemia or thalassemias. * Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is a calculation of the average amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin inside a red blood cell. Macrocytic RBCs are large so tend to have a higher MCH, while microcytic red cells would have a lower value. * Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is a calculation of the average concentration of hemoglobin inside a red cell. Decreased MCHC values (hypochromia) are seen in conditions where the hemoglobin is abnormally diluted inside the red cells, such as in iron deficiency anemia and in thalassemia. Increased MCHC values (hyperchromia) are seen in conditions where the hemoglobin is abnormally concentrated inside the red cells, such as in burn patients and hereditary spherocytosis, a relatively rare congenital disorder. * Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a calculation of the variation in the size of your RBCs. In some anemias, such as pernicious anemia, the amount of variation (anisocytosis) in RBC size (along with variation in shape - poikilocytosis) causes an increase in the RDW.
What does this mean? I have a high WBC of 11.1 and MCH is 31.7
The normal RDW ( width of each Red Blood Cell) level is 10.2 to 14.5%. It is important to keep in mind that the ranges mentioned above will be different depending on the machine used to do the blood test. Immunoglobulin M, or IgM for short, is a basic antibody that is produced by B cells. It is the first antibody to appear in response to initial exposure to an antigen (foreign substance).
RDW means "Red blood cell Distribution Width" that takes place with the blood. If one has a low Rdw i means they are anemic.
In medicine, RDW means red cell distribution width. A low RDW means that the erythrocytes or red blood cells are uniform in size.
RDW-CV stands for Red Cell Distribution Width - Cell Volume. It means that the red blood cells vary a lot in size.
The red blood cell distribution width (RDW or RCDW) is a measure of the variation of red blood cell (RBC) width that is reported as part of a standard complete blood count. Usually red blood cells are a standard size of about 6-8 μm. Certain disorders, however, cause a significant variation in cell size. Higher RDW values indicate greater variation in size. Normal reference range in human red blood cells is 11-15%. If anemia is observed
RDW (Red blood cell Distribution Width) - Describes how much your red blood cells differ in size from one another. The lower the number, the more uniform in size. A RDW under 15.0% is considered "normal". A RDW of 15.2% is not significantly high and shouldn't be cause for concern.
Red cell distribution wudth
A low RDW-cv on a hematology test means that there is a very small variation in the size of your red blood cell. Low RDW means that the cells are mostly the same size, while high RDW means the sizes are different.
My RDW-SD was 37.80 fl
Red Cell Distribution WidthRDW = Red cell Distribution Width. A measure in variation of the sizes of the Erythocytes (red blood cells)RDW stands for red cell distribution width. It is a measure of the variability of the size (volume) of red cells. Red cells of uniform size--no matter what that size is--will have a low RDW. A population of cells which vary greatly in size will have a high RDW. Another name for variability in red cell size is anisocytosis. In both thallasemia and iron deficiency anemia, the average cell size (measured as MCV, mean corpuscular volume) is low. But in iron deficiency anemia, unlike thallasemia, the RDW is increased.Red Cell Distribution Width in PercentageRed-Blood Cell Distribution Width
If the RDW level is increased and the MCV level is normal. This can be caused by the beginning stages of a decrease in vitamin B12 or folic acid (a type of vitamin) in the body. It can also be caused by the beginning stages of iron deficiency anemia.
Means that the variation in the size of your red blood cell is very small. That it! Inother words, no problem!RDW refers to the variation in size if your red blood cells.A low RDW means that the cells are all roughly the same size.A high RDW means there isa high variation in the sizes of the cells and usually means a deficiency of iron and/or B12.
An elevated RDW is a higher than normal red blood cell count. This can be brought on by a number of things, most commonly anemia. Your doctor will be able to best advise you on the appropriate course of action to take to get your red blood cells to a normal level.