Small Blood Count

A blood count is the examination of the blood for its various components.

The blood count is the most common blood test of all, since changes in the blood count occur in a wide variety of diseases. One can distinguish a small blood count from a large blood count, which then includes a differential blood count in addition to the small blood count.In the small blood count, the following values are determined:

Normal values Men Women
Hemoglobin (Hb) 140-180 g/l (14-18 g/dl)Anemia (anemia) according to the World Health Organization (WHO):

  • <8.06 mmol/l (13 g/dl)
 120-160 g/l (12-16 g/dl)Anemia according to the World Health Organization (WHO):

  • <7.44 mmol/l (12 g/dl)
Hematocrit (Hk) 40-54 % 37-47 %
Erythrocytes (Ery) 4.8-5.9 million/μl blood 4.3-5.2 mio/μl blood
Leukocytes(white blood cell count, WBC) 4-10,000/μl blood
Platelets 150-450,000/μl blood
MCH 28-32 pg
MCV 85-95 fl (femtoliter = 10-15liter) < 80: macrocytic anemia 80-100: normocytic anemia > 100: macrocytic anemia
MCHC 32-36 g/dL

Legend

  • Hemoglobin (Hb) – ferrous red blood pigment in erythrocytes (red blood cells).
  • Erythrocyte count – number of red erythrocytes; important for oxygen transport.
  • Leukocyte count – number of leukocytes (white blood cells); among other things, responsible for the immune defense.
  • Platelet count – number of platelets (blood platelets); play an important role in blood clotting.
  • Hematocrit (Hkt) – volume fraction of cellular elements in the blood; since erythrocytes physiologically represent 99% of the total volume of blood cells, the Hkt corresponds to the proportion of the volume of all erythrocytes in the total blood [%].
  • MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin) – mean corpuscular hemoglobin (= mean hemoglobin content per erythrocyte); is used to differentiate anemia (anemia) into hypo-, normo- and hyperchromic anemia.
  • MCV (mean corpuscular volume) – mean erythrocyte individual volume; used to differentiate into microcytic, normocytic and macrocytic anemia.
    • MCV can be calculated from the hematocrit and the number of erythrocytes in the blood using the following formula: MCV = hematocrit / erythrocyte count.
    • Mathematically, MCV is related to two other parameters: MCV = MCH / MCHC.
  • MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) – mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration: mean hemoglobin concentration of hematocrit (the red cell mass). (MCHC = hemoglobin/hematocrit, MCHC = MCH/MCV).