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An RBC count is a blood test that tells how many red blood cells (RBCs) you have.
RBCs contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen. How much oxygen your body tissues get depends on how many RBCs you have and how well they work.
Alternative NamesErythrocyte count; Red blood cell count
How the test is performedBlood is typically drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.
Next, the health care provider gently inserts a needle into the vein. The blood collects into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed from your arm.
Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
In infants or young children, a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin and make it bleed. The blood collects into a small glass tube called a pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. A bandage may be placed over the area if there is any bleeding.
How to prepare for the testNo special preparation is necessary for adults.
How the test will feelWhen the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
Why the test is performedThe RBC count is almost always part of the CBC (complete blood count) test.
The test can help diagnose anemia and other conditions affecting red blood cells.
Additional conditions under which an RBC count may be performed:
- Alport syndrome
- Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia
- Hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency
- Hereditary anemias, such as thalassemia
- Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- Immune hemolytic anemia
- Macroglobulinemia of Waldenstrom
- Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
- Primary myelofibrosis
The general the range is as follows:
- Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per microliter (cells/mcL)
- Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL
Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What abnormal results meanHigher-than-normal numbers of RBCs may be due to:
- Cigarette smoking
- Congenital heart disease
- Cor pulmonale
- Dehydration(such as from severe diarrhea)
- Kidney tumor (renal cell carcinoma)
- Low blood oxygen levels (hypoxia)
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Polycythemia vera
Your RBC count will increase for several weeks when you move to a higher altitude.
Drugs that can increase the RBC count include:
- Gentamicin
- Methyldopa
Lower-than-normal numbers of RBCs may be due to:
- Anemia
- Bone marrow failure (for example, from radiation, toxins, or tumor)
- Erythropoietin deficiency (secondary to kidney disease)
- Hemolysis (RBC destruction) due to transfusion, blood vessel injury, or other cause
- Hemorrhage (bleeding)
- Leukemia
- Malnutrition
- Multiple myeloma
- Nutritional deficiencies of:
- Overhydration
- Pregnancy
Drugs that can decrease the RBC count include:
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Chloramphenicol
- Hydantoins
- Quinidine
There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Fainting or feeling light-headed
- Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
- Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
Zuckerman K. Approach to the anemias. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 162.
What else can I help you with?
What is normal red cell count in urine?
The normal RBC count in urine is - 4 RBC/HPF RBC -red blood corpuscle HPF - high power field
What are the other use of rbc?
Platelet count and sperm count
What are the other uses of RBC pipette?
Platelet count and sperm count
Dengue fever resuls in dip in the rbc count wbc count platelets count hemoglobin?
platelets
What prediction can you make with rbc's and wbc's?
If rbc stands for red blood count and wbc stands for white blood count, then you may be able to predict if someone is becoming anemic.
Is a 5 10 RBC count in urine considered high?
yes
What is the long term effect of athletic training on RBC count?
The more we use our skeletal muscles, the more oxygen they need. This causes an increase in rbc count because rbcs carry the oxygen. If an athlete trains at high altitude, the rbc count will increase even more because the body compensates for the lower oxygen level at high altitude by increasing rbc count even more. This is sometimes referred to as 'packing'.
What CBC parameters would be abnormal in a patient who has cancer?
TOTAL WBC COUNT,RBC COUNT,HEMOGLOBIN and platelet count will be decreased in Cancer.
How do you calculate mcv?
Yes you can, but as always you need some other points to make the calculation ie HCT(hematocrit) and your RBC(red blood count) MCV=HCT%*10 / RBC count (millions/mm3)
What is the significance of RBC in lab results?
RBC (red blood cell) count is a measure of the number of red blood cells in the blood. It provides information about a person's oxygen-carrying capacity and overall blood health. Abnormalities in RBC count can indicate conditions such as anemia or polycythemia.
What does RBC means in a hematology test?
RBC stands for red blood cells. It is a common measurement in a hematology test that indicates the number of red blood cells in a given volume of blood. A low RBC count may suggest anemia, while a high count could indicate dehydration or a condition like polycythemia.
Is there increase in RBC count in COPD and why?
Yes there is an increase in hematocrit and this is due to anoxia
