Red cell indices
Red cell indices are laboratory tests that measure the size and hemoglobin content of red blood
cells. In sickle cell patients, these indices may be abnormal due to the presence of sickle-shaped
red blood cells. The most commonly used red cell indices are:

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): This measures the average size of red blood cells. In
sickle cell disease, MCV may be low due to the presence of smaller sickle-shaped cells.

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH): This measures the average amount of
hemoglobin in each red blood cell. In sickle cell disease, MCH may be low due to the
presence of less hemoglobin in each cell.

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC): This measures the concentration
of hemoglobin in each red blood cell. In sickle cell disease, MCHC may be normal or
slightly elevated due to the presence of more concentrated hemoglobin in the sickleshaped cells.
Total WBC and differential WBC are other laboratory tests that measure the number and types of
white blood cells in the blood, respectively. In sickle cell disease, patients may have an increased
number of white blood cells due to inflammation and infection. The differential WBC test can
help identify which types of white blood cells are elevated, such as neutrophils or lymphocytes,
which can provide clues about the underlying cause of inflammation.
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