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RBC Indices and ESR Overview

RBC indices provide information about the size and hemoglobin content of red blood cells. Mean cell volume is the average RBC volume, mean cell hemoglobin is the average hemoglobin per RBC, and mean cell hemoglobin concentration is the average hemoglobin concentration per RBC. Abnormal RBC indices can indicate different types of anemia. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate test involves drawing anticoagulated whole blood and allowing it to stand undisturbed for 1 hour to measure how far the red blood cells settle in that time, indicating inflammation. An increased ESR is a non-specific marker that can help identify inflammatory conditions but not their severity. The test is useful for screening and monitoring diseases

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61 views23 pages

RBC Indices and ESR Overview

RBC indices provide information about the size and hemoglobin content of red blood cells. Mean cell volume is the average RBC volume, mean cell hemoglobin is the average hemoglobin per RBC, and mean cell hemoglobin concentration is the average hemoglobin concentration per RBC. Abnormal RBC indices can indicate different types of anemia. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate test involves drawing anticoagulated whole blood and allowing it to stand undisturbed for 1 hour to measure how far the red blood cells settle in that time, indicating inflammation. An increased ESR is a non-specific marker that can help identify inflammatory conditions but not their severity. The test is useful for screening and monitoring diseases

Uploaded by

Pamela Besana
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Hematology 1

topic 7 & 8
RBC Indices & ESR
OVERVIEW OF Topic 7 & 8
1. Hemoglobin Determination

2. Hematocrit Determination
01
Rbc indices
Rbc indices
Principle

• RBC indices are calculated to determine the size and


hemoglobin content of the average RBC. They serve as a
quality control check and are also used to differentiate
anemia.
Rbc indices
Mean Cell (Corposcular) Volume (MCV)

• It is the average volume of the RBC expressed in cubic micra


(um3) or femtoliters (fL) or 105 L
Rbc indices
Mean Cell (Corposcular) Hemoglobin (MCH)

• It is the average weight of hemoglobin in an RBC expressed


in pictograms (pg), or 1012 g

• Generally not considered in the classification of anemias


Rbc indices
Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration

• It is the average concentration of hemoglobin in each


individual erythrocyte

• Unit used is g/dL


Rbc indices disease correlation
Microcytic (<80 fL), Hypochromic (<32 g/dL)

• IDA, thalassemia, SDA, conditions of defective iron use,


chronic infection or inflammation, unstable Hgb.
Rbc indices disease correlation
Normocytic (80 – 100 fL), Normochromic (32 – 36 g/dL)

• Hemolytic anemia, leukemia, metastatic malignancy, bone


marrow failure, chronic renal disease
Rbc indices disease correlation
Macrocytic (>100 fL), Normochromic (32 – 36 g/dL)

• Liver disease, myelodysplasia, megaloblastic anemia


02
esr
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Principle

• Anticoagulated blood is taken in a tube and kept


undisturbed in a vertical position in a rack for 1 hour to
allow erythrocyte sedimentation. Settling of the erythrocyte
is due to changes in their surface change from negative to
positive resulting in rouleaux formation of cells.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Materials Needed:

1. Whole blood (EDTA)

2. Whole blood (3.2% sodium citrate anticoagulant)

3. Wintrobe & Westergren rack

4. Wintrobe & Westergren tube e

5. Pastuer pipette
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Wintrobe Method

Procedure

1. Mix the whole blood (EDTA) thoroughly and fill a Pasteur


pipette.

2. Place the filled pipette into the Wintrobe tube until the tip
reaches the bottom.

3. Carefully squeeze the bulb expelling the blood into the


Wintrobe tube, slowly pulling the Pasteur pipette from the
bottom as it is done.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
4. Fill the wintrobe tube to the 0 mark

5. Place on a Wintrobe rack and allow to stan, undisturbed


for 1 hour.

6. Record the number of mm the erythrocytes have fallen.


Read from the plasma meniscus to the top of the
erythrocytes.

7. Report as mm/Hr.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Westergren Method

Procedure

1. Mix the whole blood (3.2% sodium citrate).

2. Fill the Westergren tube, by suction method, by inserting it


directly into the tube containing citrated blood.

3. Place the whole unit on to a rack and let it stand for 1


hour.

4. Record the millimeters the erythrocytes have fallen.


Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
5. Report as 1 hr = ______ mm
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• Rate of settling of red blood cells from their plasma after
the addition of anticoagulant.

• A non-specific screening test used to identify health


disorders and for monitoring purposes.

• This test does not measure a rate.

• Represents a non-specific response to tissue damage or


inflammation and denotes the presence of disease but not
the severity.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• Valuable screening procedure for the absence of active
disease.

• The usefulness of the test lies in its ability to differentiate


among disease with similar symptoms.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Importance of ESR

• Good index in detecting occult inflammatory

• Aid in detecting an inflammatory process

• As a monitor of disease course or activity

• Measures the suspension stability of red blood cells

• Measures the abnormal concentration of fibrinogen and


globulin
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Factors in ESR

1. Intrinsic Factors: Inherent Factors in Plasma & RBC

• Plasma Factors
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• RBC Factors

• Extrinsic Factors

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