Question 1

what does a low rdw mean on a  blood test?

Accepted Answer

Low RDW is good: Rdw refers to the variation in the size of red blood cells. Normal value is from 11.5 to 14.5.  There is preliminary evidence that high RDW values may portend higher mortality, however, this information has not become part of the accepted medical facts.  The data for this association is based on information gathered by the insurance industry.

Question 2

cbc done - hgb, hct low(10.6/33.3). the mcv, mch and mch were borderline low. the rdw  high. donated blood 1 month previous with 12.9 hgb. ? diagnosis

Accepted Answer

Not enough data: Most cbc's only tell us what numerically is wrong. The only sure way to tell a CBC is abnormal is to look at the peripheral smear. Your indices indicate that you may be iron deficient, however that requires a thorough assessment for blood loss from the gi, gu and respiratory tract. If you donate blood, you can exacerbate the iron deficiency.

Question 3

mcv very high, mch high, rdw low. cl high. blood in urinalysis . vitamin b12 is on the low end, but not actually deficient. any ideas?

Accepted Answer

How's the thyroid?: High MCV with normal B12 (did we check folate (folic acid)? do you drink?) says hypothyroidism until proved otherwise, and I see you've also listed this as a health problem. Further, you're taking vitamin B12 -- for a reason? -- but do not list thyroid Rx. Truth be told, you have a duty to get the thyroid issue addressed and managed, now, even more than to seek explanations for lab values. Be proactive.

Question 4

low white blood 3.6 l and high rdw 16.3 h and alt 36 h?

Accepted Answer

Not significant: None of those values is significant in the absence of clinical disease.

Question 5

hi,
i'm a 38yr old female whom recently had a complete blood work done and all came back normal except for mchc was low- 31.5 and my rdw was high at 15.5.  i'm worried and want to know what this could indicate?

Accepted Answer

Anemia: Your CBC results suggest that you may have anemia. There are many different types of anemia and most commonly are related to iron deficiency, or a vitamin deficiency such as B9 or B12. How is your overall health? Do you maintain a healthy diet with adequate fruits and vegetables? The increased RDW reflects cells of different sizes. The low MCHC suggests not enough iron content in the blood cells.

Question 6

i had a pre employment blood test and had high rdw and low mpv, is this something to worry about?

Accepted Answer

No: Reference ranges are set so that several percent of healthy folks fall outside for each value. Mpv is famously variable and like rdw, if you feel well probably a value outside reference range means nothing. I trust you are not marginally iron-deficient (how's the stomach post-surgery?) or have missed thal-minor, itself a non-problem.

Question 7

what does it mean on my blood test says rdw- high 15.6 & hemoglobin low & hematocrit low ?

Accepted Answer

Anaemia: Sounds like mild iron deficiency anaemia. Try an oral iron preparation and repeat the test in three months. Good Luck

Question 8

blood work was good except for the following:  creatinine was 1.15(tad high),  alkaline phosphatatase 36 (tad low), and rdw-cv 10.9 (tad low).  worry?

Accepted Answer

No: Most blood tests have a mean peak value with upper and lower limits extending out from the bell shaped peak. Having a mean blood vessel diameter slightly off as well as a creatinine and alkpo4ase is of no consequence since it doesn't portray active disease in an organ.  The alkpo4 as can be derived from various sources such as bone and lung tissue and if asymptomatic should be ignored.

Question 9

bloods showed high mch, high mcv, low rdw and high bilirubin. liver test/scan came back fine, what else could it be??

Accepted Answer

Else what?: All laboratory results need to be interpreted in the clinical context and the doctor who ordered the tests is usually in the best position to do that. Having said that, the first thing to rule out would be B12/Folate deficiency. What is your hemoglobin level and what are the actual values of the results?

Question 10

lupus blood work f/u normal except what does high rdw (16) and low mchc 30.5 & low hgb 10.6, low hct 34.8 mean?

Accepted Answer

Low blood/anemia,,,,: High RDW means high distribution or a wide variety of rbc size, low MCHC means a low average hemoglobin concentration, and low hb and hct mean that the blood has somewhat less hemoglobin and is anemic.  Your value isn't very low but anemia can occur in lupus patients and should be monitored.  Best of luck.

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Doctor answers about:

Low rdw blood

A member asked:

What does a low rdw mean on a blood test?

A member asked:

Cbc done - hgb, hct low(10.6/33.3). the mcv, mch and mch were borderline low. the rdw high. donated blood 1 month previous with 12.9 hgb. ? diagnosis

A member asked:

Mcv very high, mch high, rdw low. cl high. blood in urinalysis . vitamin b12 is on the low end, but not actually deficient. any ideas?

A member asked:

Low white blood 3.6 l and high rdw 16.3 h and alt 36 h?

A member asked:

Hi, i'm a 38yr old female whom recently had a complete blood work done and all came back normal except for mchc was low- 31.5 and my rdw was high at 15.5. i'm worried and want to know what this could indicate?

A member asked:

I had a pre employment blood test and had high rdw and low mpv, is this something to worry about?

A member asked:

What does it mean on my blood test says rdw- high 15.6 & hemoglobin low & hematocrit low ?

A member asked:

Blood work was good except for the following: creatinine was 1.15(tad high), alkaline phosphatatase 36 (tad low), and rdw-cv 10.9 (tad low). worry?

A member asked:

Bloods showed high mch, high mcv, low rdw and high bilirubin. liver test/scan came back fine, what else could it be??

A member asked:

Lupus blood work f/u normal except what does high rdw (16) and low mchc 30.5 & low hgb 10.6, low hct 34.8 mean?

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