In this Article

• What is anemia?
• What causes anemia?
• Can not enough iron cause anemia?
• What about acute (sudden) blood loss as a cause of anemia?
• What are other causes of anemia?
• Can anemia be hereditary?
• What are the symptoms of anemia?
• How is anemia diagnosed?
• What is a complete blood cell (CBC) count?
• How is blood collected for a complete blood cell (CBC)?
• What is the red blood cell (RBC) count?
• What is hemoglobin?
• What does a low hemoglobin level mean?
• What is the hematocrit?
• How is hematocrit determined?
• How is anemia treated?
• What are the complications of anemia?
• What is the outlook (prognosis) for anemia?
• Patient Discussions: Anemia - Symptoms Experienced
• Anemia Glossary
• Anemia Index

How is anemia diagnosed?

Anemia is usually detected or at least confirmed by a complete blood cell (CBC) count. CBC test may be ordered by a physician as a part of routine general check-up and screening or based on clinical signs and symptoms that may suggest anemia or other blood abnormalities.

What is a complete blood cell (CBC) count?

A CBC is a test for counting and examining the different types of cells in the blood. Traditionally, CBC analysis was performed by a physician or a laboratory technician by viewing a glass slide prepared from a blood sample under a microscope. Today, much of this work is often automated and done by machines. Six component measurements make up a CBC test:

1. Red blood cell (RBC) count
   
   
2. Hematocrit
   
   
3. Hemoglobin
   
   
4. White blood cell (WBC) count
   
   
5. Differential blood count (the "diff")
   
   
6. Platelet count

Only the first three of these tests: the red blood cell (RBC) count, the hematocrit, and the hemoglobin, are relevant to the diagnosis of anemia.

Additionally, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is also often reported in a CBC, which basically measures the average volume of red blood cells in a blood sample. This is important in distinguishing the causes of anemia. Units of MCV are reported in femtoliters, a fraction of one millionth of a liter.

Other useful clues to causes of anemia that are reported in a CBC are the size, shape, and color of red blood cells.

Anemia - Symptoms Experienced

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For anemia, what were the symptoms and signs you experienced?

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