What is a Red Blood Cell Count?

Red blood cells (RBCs) are the most common type of cells in the human body. Its main physiological function is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide through the hemoglobin contained in the cell. The life span of red blood cells is about 120 days. Every day, many red blood cells die due to aging. In addition, many new red blood cells replace aging red blood cells, keeping the number of red blood cells in a dynamic balance to maintain the normal needs of the body's metabolism. There are a variety of reasons that can cause the imbalance of red blood cell production and destruction. As a result, the number of red blood cells is reduced or increased, which causes anemia or erythrocytosis; on the other hand, the quality of red blood cells changes. Examination of the number and morphology and biochemical changes of red blood cells has important clinical significance for the identification and diagnosis of certain diseases.

Basic Information

Chinese name: Red blood cell count
Foreign name: Erythrocyte Count
nickname: Red blood cell count, red blood cell count

Related diseases: Polycythemia vera, anemia, leukemia
Specialty classification: Hematology
Check classification: Clinical laboratory examination

Clinical significance of red blood cell count

Physiological increase

Found in newborns, plateau residents and so on.

2. Pathological increase

Found in true erythrocytosis, dehydration caused by various causes, congenital heart disease, pulmonary heart disease and so on.

3. reduce

Seen in various anemias (such as aplastic anemia, iron deficiency anemia, iron granulocyte anemia, megaloblastic anemia, hemolytic anemia, thalassemia, etc.), massive blood loss (such as trauma bleeding, surgical bleeding, postpartum Major bleeding, acute gastrointestinal bleeding, chronic blood loss caused by ulcers, etc.), leukemia, postpartum, chemotherapy, etc.

There is a certain proportional relationship between the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin. In some patients with anemia, the proportional relationship between the two changes. Observing and analyzing the two results at the same time has certain significance for the diagnosis and differentiation of anemia.