An RBC count is a blood test that measures how many red blood cells (RBCs) you have. RBCs contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen. How much oxygen your body tissues get depends on how many RBCs you have and how well they work.
Why test red blood cells (WBC)?
The test can help diagnose different kinds of anemia (low number of RBCs) and other conditions affecting red blood cells.
Health check
Discover factors for lifestyle diseases in time and do something about them.
Symptoms
A red blood count is often part of a routine check when you have diverse symptoms.
Monitoring
Monitor changes to your blood values as you make lifestyle changes or undergo treatments.
What do the results mean?
High and low values can each have several different causes, ranging from smoking to dehydration and tumours, and should be investigated by a doctor.
What causes low levels of red blood cells?
Low red blood cells can be caused by a number of factors, including missing certain vitamins or minerals in the diet because of not eating enough. Low iron levels in the blood. Major organ problems (including severe heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease), or red blood cells (RBCs) being destroyed by the body before they are replaced.
What causes elevated red blood cells?
A higher-than-usual level of red blood cells can be caused by a number of health conditions or health-related factors, including smoking, congenital heart disease, or dehydration (for example, from severe diarrhea).
More Information
Values that are slightly outside the reference range can be normal. Reference ranges are not perfect and approximately 5% of healthy individuals may have results outside the reference range.
Instructions
No advance preparation is needed for this test.
On the day of the test.
Always take your ID with you when going for a test. Arrive early and sit down quietly for 15 minutes before the test is taken.