Overview
Results:
Normal values vary with altitude and sex.
What abnormal results may mean:
Low numbers of red blood cells may indicate anemia, which has many causes including:
- Blood loss
- Iron deficiency
- Deficiences of vitamin B12 or folic acid
- Bone marrow failure (for example, from radiation, toxin, fibrosis, tumor)
- Erythropoietin deficiency (secondary to kidney disease)
- Hemolysis (RBC destruction)
- Leukemia
- Multiple myeloma
- Over hydration
Low numbers of white blood cells (leukopenia) may indicate:
- Bone marrow failure (for example, due to granuloma (granular tumor), tumor, or fibrosis)
- Presence of cytotoxic substance
- Collagen-vascular diseases (such as lupus erythematosus)
- Disease of the liver or spleen
- Radiation exposure
High numbers of white blood cells (leukocytosis) may indicate:
- Infectious diseases
- Inflammatory disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis or allergy)
- Leukemia
- Severe emotional or physical stress
- Tissue damage (for example, burns)
A high hematocrit may indicate:
- Dehydration
- Burns
- Diarrhea
- Eclampsia
- Erythrocytosis
- Polycythemia vera
- Shock
Review Date 10/16/2022
Updated by: Mark Levin, MD, Hematologist and Oncologist, Monsey, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.