Normal values
In order to identify the anaemic state one needs to have knowledge of the normal haematological values.
Red cell count
Men
Women
Infants (full-term, cord blood)
Children, 1 year
Children, 10-12 years
Haemoglobin
Men
Women
Infants (full-term, cord blood)
Children, 1year
Children, 10-12 years
Packed cell volume (PCV: haematocrit)
Men
Women
Infants (full-term, cord blood)
Children, 3 months
Children, 10-12 years
Platelet Count
5.5
4.8
5.0
4.4
4.7
​±​ 1.0 x 10​12​/l (4.5-6.5)
​±​ 1.0 x 10​12​/​l ​(3.9-5.6)
​±​ 1.0 x 10​12​/l
​±​ 0.8 x 10​12​/l
​±​ 0.7 x 10​12​/l
15.5 ​±​ 2.5 g/dl (13.5-17.5)
14.0 ​±​ 2.5 g/dl (11.5-15.5)
16.5 ​±​ 3.0 g/dl
12.0 ​±​ 1.0 g/dl
13.0 ​±​ 1.5 g/dl
0.47 ​±​ 0.07 (l/l)
0.42 ​±​ 0.05 (l/l)
0.54 ​±​0.10 (l/l)
0.38 ​±​ 0.06 (l/l)
0.41 ​±​ 0.04 (l/l)
150-400 x 10​9​/L (250 x 10​9​/L)
Reticulocyte Count
● This is usually expressed as a percentage of the red cells examined in an individual patient. The normal
count is as follows:
Adults and children
Infants (full-term, cord blood)
0.5-2.5% (25-125 x10​9​/L)
2-6%
RI​ = Reticulocyte count (%) x ​Patient PCV (1/1)​ x ​1
Normal PCV (1/1)
Maturation time (days)
i.e (0.45)
The maturation of reticulocytes in the circulation is:
1.0 day when the PCV is 0.45 l/l,
1.5 days when the PCV is 0.35 l/l,
2.0 days when the PCV is 0.25 1/1,
2.5 days when the PCV is 0.15 l/l.
e.g.
reticulocyte count = 20%
PCV (patient) = 0.25 l/l
PCV (normal) = 0.45 l/l
Maturation time = 2.0 days
RI =
20 ​ x ​0.25​ = 5.5
2.0
0.45
3.0
RI <2 Hypo-regenerative anaemia
RI >3 Hyper-regenerative anaemia
The size and staining characteristics of the cells may be objectively measured by the mean corpuscular volume
(MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC).
MCV (fl) =
PCV (l/l) x 1000
RCC (10​12​/l)
MCH (pg) =
Haemoglobin (g/dl) x 10
RCC (10​12​/l)
MCHC (g/dl) =
Haemoglobin (g/dl)
PCV (l/l)
Normal Values
Mean cell volume (MCV)
Adults
Infants (full-term, cord blood)
Children, 1 year
Children, 10-12 years
Mean cell haemoglobin (MCH)
Adults
Mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
Adults and children
85 ​±​ 8fl (80-95)
106 fl (mean)
78 ​±​ 8 fl
84 ​±​ 7 fl
29.5 ​±​ 2.5 pg (30-35)
33 ​±​ 2 g/dl
Microcytic, hypochromic anaemia
(MCV <80fl & MCH <27pg) – Iron Deficiency, Thalassaemia, Sideroblastic anaemia (some cases), Lead
Poisoning.
Normocytic, normochromic anaemia
(MCV 80-95 fl & MCH ​>​27) – Haemolytic Anaemias, Renal Disease, BM Failure, Post acute blood loss.
Macrocytic
(MCV >95 fl) – Megaloblastic: Vitamin B​12​ or folate deficiency
Non megaloblastic: alcohol, liver disease, myelodysplasia, aplastic anaemia