The following RBC indices are obtained on a patient when calculated using results from manual methods:
MCV: 73 fL
MCH: 24 pg
MCHC: 33.4 g/dL
When the stained blood film is evaluated, the RBCs are normocytic normochromic. What conclusion can be made from this information?
a. The hematocrit is too low.
b. The hemoglobin is too low.
c. The red count is too high.
d. It is impossible to come to any conclusion.
ANS: C
The MCHC is in the reference range and the red cells are normochromic. These then correlate with one another; therefore the hemoglobin and hematocrit appear valid. The cells are also normocytic, which means that the MCV and MCH should also both be in the reference range, but they are not. Because the red count is the denominator for both of these determinations, it must be too high and thus falsely decrease both the MCV and MCH.
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