TOTAL RBC COUNT

In adults:

Male:

• 5.2 (4.5 -6) million per mm3 of blood

Female:

• 4.7 (4- 5.5) million per mm3 of blood

• Red Blood cells, also called as Erythrocytes are produced in the bone marrow. The human red blood cell is normally a circular, non-nucleated, biconcave disc. It contains haemoglobin. The surface area of red blood cell is much greater than that of a sphere of the same size. Thus the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is maximal with the biconcave configuration
• The total RBC count is performed to assess the red cell mass in the blood. RBC count is a count of the actual number of red blood cells in the blood sample. The change in erythrocyte count is frequently detected in clinical practice by ordering estimation of Hb rather than total RBC count, as estimation of Hb is easy and less expensive. Moreover, total RBC count by manual method is more erroneous (error more than 20%). Abnormal RBC results may prompt a reticulocyte count, iron studies, tests for Vit B12 folate etc. to make a diagnosis
• RBC count is more in new born (6-8 million per mm3 of blood). The count decreases rapidly thereafter, and is lowest at about two to four months of age (3-4 million/mm3). Count slowly increases from one year of life to reach 5 million/mm3 at about 10 years

• As a part of Complete Blood Count
• When there is s/s of Anemia (weakness or fatigue, lack of energy, fainting, pallor, fast or irregular heartbeat, cold hands or feet)
• When there is s/s of Polycythemia (disturbed vision, Dizziness, headache, flushing, Enlarged spleen)

Physiological

• High altitude (due to hypoxia)
• New born have high count
• Excessive sweating (due to haemo concentration)

Pathological

• Conditions that produce haemo concentration (due to loss of body fluid) e.g. severe diarrhoea and vomiting
• Conditions that produce chronic hypoxia e.g. congenital heart disease and emphysema
• Polycythemia vera
• Dehydration
• Lung disease

Physiological

• Pregnancy (due to haemodilution)
• Children have lower values than adults
• Women have lower values than men

Pathoogical

• Different types of anemia
• Relative decrease in RBC count occurs in different pathological conditions that produce hemodilution.
• Excess ADH secretion as occurs in posterior pituitary tumours
• Iron deficiency
• Bone marrow disorders
• Chronic inflammatory disease
• Chronic Kidney disease