Anemia Support Group

Anemia (or anaemia), which literally means "without blood," is a deficiency of red blood cells and/or hemoglobin. This results in a reduced ability of blood to transfer oxygen to the tissues, and this causes hypoxia; since all human cells depend on oxygen for survival, varying degrees of anemia can have a wide range of clinical consequences.

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Heart, Blood & Circulation
/ Anemia Support Group

Lab results

Michelle1970
Michelle1970
Hello, I am new to the group, I have had anemia for 10+ years and take a gentle iron to treat it. All of my numbers were good on my last lab (good iron, ferritin, RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, etc ).... all good in range.

My Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concent. was 35.4 (range 31.-35) and my RDW Coefficient was low 10.7 (11.-16). Do these numbers mean anything if all other #'s are ok? thanks for your help.
Caroline04
Caroline04
What does your doctor say? There are a lot of variables here. Hard to comment because history and other factors can be important. Anemia has so many causes and there are many types. It's always good to get the doctors input because a blood test is really a type of "snapshot" of that particular moment. I have several values that are off each test and the doctor has been monitoring for some time. My numbers have greatly improved so I am happy with that. Regardless, I hope you are feeling well at this time!
Misssy2
Misssy2
I agree you have to talk to your Dr as well...BUT...I have read a lot and talked to my Dr. a lot on this topic over the last year. And it seems they have diagnosed you with Iron Deficient Anemia.

Anemia can also result from an "underlying" illness. But they seemed to have ruled yours to only be that you have an iron deficiency. They are treating you with iron pills and you are responding to the iron.

Like the woman said already...the blood tests vary and are a "snapshot in time". If that was my test results...the Coefficient 10.7...rounds to 11...and I would not be concerned at all about it....correct there is a range and it is calculated and the decimal is a significant figure in this calculation or they wouldn't show it. it would just say (10)...but that is not WAY off.

If it were 7, 8, 9...then I would still be worried (we get scared when our blood work is off)...I know :)