I have just had my blood test results sent to me showing values for:
RBC
HGB
HCT
MCV
MCH
MCHC
RDW
RDW-SD
PLT
MPV
Are all of these related to one another or independent of each other?
For example, if the haemoglobin is abnormal would all the others be abnormal too? or could the others all be okay?
The first 8 are related in varying degrees of closeness to each other, and measure various information about red blood cells.
the last two factors are related to each other, and apply to Platelets.
If the hgb is low, usually the hct is too. If it’s a chronic low hgb and hct due to gradual bleeding with resultant iron deficiency, or due to just plain iron deficiency, then the mcv, mch, and mchc may be low too. On other hand, those last 3 could be elevated if it’s due to other varieties of anemia, or normal if it’s due to acute blood loss.
I generally ignore the RDW, RDW-SD, and the MPV, they rarely provide me with useful clinical info.
platelets may be up, down or normal completely independently of the RBC indices. MPV is usually independent of platelets, but not always.
Remember that a little abnormal is pretty normal with the CBC. You’ll rarely get the exact same thing twice, and it’s pretty unusual for some people to have every single value in “normal” ranges. There are certain patterns that doctors are looking for, so you really need a clinician to read the results.
That is interesting thank you. All of my values were low, especially the last two. My haemoglobin was 8.2 so I’m seeing my GP next week.