Red Blood Cell count
Abbreviation
RBC
Transport Temp
2-8 C (ice packs) or ambient
Stability
store at 2-8 C up to 24 hours, CBC’s not viable after 24 hours
Minimum Vol
EDTA Draw tube at least half full
Alternative Specimens
None
Reference Ranges
Male: 4.06-5.58 10e6/uL Female: 3.6-4.69 10e6/uL
Collection Instructions
Routine venipuncture
Transport Container
Draw tube
Methodology
Flow Cytometric techniques
Clinical Significance
Decreased-Anemia, bleeding, bone marrow failure, erythropoietin deficiency, hemolysis due to transfusion, blood vessel injury, leukemia, malnutrition, multiple myeloma, overhydration, pregnancy, too little iron, copper, folic acid, vitamin B6 or B12 in the diet, chemotherapy drugs. Elevated-cigarette smoking, congenital heart disease, failure of the right side of the heart(cor pulmonale), dehydration, renal cell carcinoma, hypoxia, pulmonary fibrosis, polycythemia vera, certain drugs.
Preferred Specimen
Plasma EDTA