Flashcards Table on Answer These CBC, WBC, RBC Lab Values Flashcards

Normal hemoglobin (HBG) values:

13.5 - 16.5

male

12.0 - 15.0

female

Normal hematocrit (HCT) values are:

41 - 50

male

36 - 44

female

Normal RBC count is:

4.5 - 5.5

male

4.0 - 4.9 (x 10⁶/ml)

female

Normal platelet count is:

100,000 to 450,000

Normal WBC count is:

4,500 - 10,000

Normal segmented neurtophil count is:

54 - 62%

Normal band form count is:

3 - 5% (above 8% indicates left shift)

Normal basophil count is:

0-1%

Normal eosinophil count is:

0-3%

Normal lymphocyte count is: 24-44%

24-44%

Normal monocyte count is:

3-6%

Increased WBC count may be suggestive of:

Bacterial/viral infection, leukemia.

Reduced RBC values (anemia) may be suggestive of:

Hemorrhage, bacterial infections, low B-12, kidney disease (erythropoietin, which signals the red bone marrow in the bones to create RBCs, is made in the kidneys).

Decreased HBG may be suggestive of:

Anemia due to nutritional deficiencies, blood loss, destruction of blood cells internally, or failure to produce blood in the bone marrow.

Decreased HCT may be suggestive of:

Anemia due to nutritional deficiencies, blood loss.

Reduced platelet count may be suggestive of:

Thrombocytopenia, acute blood loss, drug effects (such as heparin), infections w/sepsis, entrapment of platelets in an enlarged spleen, bone marrow failure from diseases such as leukemia.

RBC function is to:

Transport oxygen bound to HBG. Also transports small amounts of carbon dioxide

Neutrophil function:

They are active phagocytes. They increase rapidly in number during short-term or acute infection. "First responders" to infection.

Eosinophil function:

Increase during allergies, kill parasitic worms.

Basophil function:

Responds to inflammation. Granules contain histamine (vasodilator), which is discharged at sites of inflammation.

Granulocytes include:

The "Phils": neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils

Agranulocytes include:

Lymphocytes and monocytes

Lymphocyte function:

Important in the "immune response." B lymphocytes produce antibodies. T lymphocytes fight infections and tumors and also active B lymphocytes.

Monocyte function:

Phagocytes that become macrophages in the tissues. They are the "clean-up team." They increase in number during chronic infections, such at TB.

Monocyte increase may indicate:

Long-term infection

Neutrophil increase may indicate:

New-onset (acute) infection.

Platelet function:

Clot blood. Are not "cells", but fragments of megakaryocytes.

Blood cell formation:

Hemocytoblasts (stem cells) become secondary stem cells (either lymphoid stem cells or myeloid stem cells). Lymphoid stem cells become lymphocytes. Myeloid stem cells become either: erythrocytes, platelets, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, or basophils.

RBC formation:

Includes the kidney (releases erythropoietin), which stimulates red bone marrow in the bones to produce RBCs. May be stimulated w/decreased RBC count, decreased O2 in blood, or increased O2 demand in the tissues.

Normal and therapeutic PT / INR values:

Normal INR should be appx. 1.0. Therapeutic level (prevent DVT) is between 2-3. This test is done during warfarin (Coumadin) therapy. Normal PT should be between 10-12, but INR is generally used instead. The HIGHER the INR, the thinner the blood. Too high is increased risk of bleeding problems.

Normal PTT values:

Normal is between 30-45 seconds. This test is generally done while on heparin therapy (Lovenox).

Trick to remembering which test goes with which drug: PT / PTT

Count the letters in the word WARFARIN (8-letters), then add the letters from the corresponding test (PT--2 letters). You end up with 10 letters. Count the letters in HEPARIN (7), then add the correct test (PTT--3 letters). When the correct test is matched up to the correct drug, you should end up with (letters). Simple, but works. This works with Coumadin/PT and Lovenox/PTT also.

PT / INR test is used during:
PTT test is used during:

PT/INR: Warfarin (Coumadin) therapy
PTT: Heparin (Lovenox) therapy