Know what normal and abnormal mean – low and high. You need to apply that information to
patient scenarios to answer the questions.
Vocabulary to KNOW for Labs Quiz
Suffixes
-penia = low
-cytosis = elevated
anemia: decrease in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) or hemoglobin (Hg) concentration (low
RBC and / or low Hg).
Symptoms: fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath, pale skin, dizziness, rapid heartbeat
normocytic anemia (MCV 80-100= normal) RBC are average sized – acute blood loss.
microcytic anemia -small red blood cells (RBCs). indicated by low # RBC/ Hg (anemia) and low
MCV (microcytic) <80, caused by iron deficiency anemia from diet or chronic blood loss with loss of
iron stores, thalassemia. microcytic anemia - small, hypochromic (pale colored) red blood cells
with low MCV values. Insufficient hemoglobin causes the RBC to be small and pale.
symptoms: fatigue, pallor, SOB, brittle nails, hair loss, Pica- craving for non-food items (ice or dirt)
macrocytic anemia – small number of large sized red blood cells. MCV > 100 due to problems with
the synthesis of blood cells such as Vitamin B 12 deficiency (pernicious anemia or folate
deficiency) normochromic and oval shaped (megaloblastic) – hemoglobin concentration is normal,
DNA synthesis of RBCs is disrupted leading to large and immature RBCs.
symptoms: fatigue, pallor, SOB, neurological symptoms: paresthesia, numbness, gait
disturbances, Glossitis (smooth, beefy red tongue), Cognitive changes: mood swings, confusion,
Gastrointestinal issues: loss of appetite, abdominal pain, Jaundice (yellowish skin) combined with
pallor, giving a "lemon yellow" appearance
leukopenia – low WBC (decreased ability to fight infection)
• neutropenia: specific type of leukopenia, indicating a decrease in neutrophils a type of
white blood cell. It's calculated using the Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC).
o ANC less than 1500/µL= neutropenia
polycythemia – increased # RBC – breaks the name rule. Increased # RBC (polycythemia) in COPD
compensates for decreased oxygen concentration in the blood. Poly means many, many RBCs.
thrombocytopenia – low platelet count (risk for bleeding) – can be autoimmune, also occurs with
Heparin Induced Thrombosis and Thrombocytopenia (HITTs) due to diffuse bleeding, which uses
up all of the clotting factors resulting in decreased platelets.
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, Important CBC Components
Normal Ranges Potential Significance of Abnormal
Hemoglobin (Hgb) Females: 12–16 g/dL Decreased: (anemia) –iron (Fe) deficiency,
Males: 14–18 g/dL chronic blood loss, chronic disease, Vit B12 or
Critical Hg values: <7 g/dL or >21 g/dL Folate deficiency
Increased: chronic hypoxia (COPD)
Mean corpuscular 80–100 fL (femtoliter) Decreased: (microcytic anemia) iron deficiency
volume (MCV) average size/volume of red blood cells. anemia, chronic blood loss, thalassemia, anemia
Low MCV, microcytic or small pale RBC. of chronic illness.
High MCV macrocytic or large RBC Increased: (macrocytic anemia): Folate
Deficiency, Vit B12 Deficiency, Pernicious Anemia
which is an autoimmune d/o where Vit B 12
deficiency is caused by lack of intrinsic factor.
Platelet count Normal 150,000–400,000/mm3 Decreased: (thrombocytopenia) bone marrow
suppression, autoimmune disease,
hypersplenism, risk of bleeding, HITTS.
Increased levels: infection, inflammation,
myeloproliferative disorder (blood cancer)
Red blood cell Females: 4.2–5.4 × 106/μL Decreased: (anemia) cirrhosis, hemorrhage
(RBC) count Males: 4.7–6.1 × 106/μL Increased: (polycythemia) chronic hypoxia
(COPD), dehydration
White blood cell Normal 5000–10,000/mm3 Decreased: (leukopenia, leukocytopenia) bone
(WBC) count Critical values: <2000 or >40,000/mm3 marrow failure or infiltration, overwhelming
infection, autoimmune disease. Rx filgrastim
Increased: (leukocytosis) infection,
inflammation, myeloproliferative disorders,
steroid use
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