Complete Blood Count
The reason a complete blood count is performed is to detect abnormal from normal. Having either high or low complete blood count can be a marker for various diseases and infections. This particular test is done to measure the exact number of red blood cells in the body. This test also gives us the exact number of the white blood cells. Performing the complete blood count gives us the exact amount of hemoglobin in the patient’s blood. The hematocrit, which is defined as the fraction of blood composed of red blood cells, is also able to be examined by performing the complete blood count test. Although the above mentioned findings are the most common use of this test, this test also allows us to gain information on the measurements of the average red blood
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If there is a increased red blood cell count or high hematocrit should point in the direction of dehydration, most commonly from severe diarrhea. It can also be a marker for increased erythropoietin production, which points to kidney malfunction. Erythropoietin is a hormone produced by the kidney in response to decreased levels oxygen in the blood, via the negative feedback mechanism. The increased count may also be a indicator of heart disease or lung diseases. Smoking can also cause an increased count, along with many other health problems.
A decreased red blood cell count or a low hematocrit is a major indication of anemia. Anemia can be the result of many disease. Anemia can arise from hemorrhages (blood loss), bone marrow dysfunction due to tumor formation or infection, red blood cell destruction (hemolysis), leukemia, chronic kidney disease, hepatitis, malnutrition, and even some autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus erythematosus. Anemia can also cause the hemoglobin to decrease, resulting in a low hemoglobin