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</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>An RBC count is a blood test that measures how many red blood cells (RBCs) you have.</p><p>RBCs contain <a test="test" href="./003645.htm">hemoglobin</a>, a protein which carries oxygen. How much oxygen your body tissues get depends on how many RBCs you have and how well they work.</p><div class="videobox"><div class="group"><img class="rollover_globals" alt="Red blood cell production" title="Red blood cell production" src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/200028t.gif"/>Watch this video about:<a class="blk" href="../anatomyvideos/000104.htm">Red blood cell production</a></div></div></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>How the Test is Performed</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>A <a test="test" href="./003423.htm">blood sample</a> is needed.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>How to Prepare for the Test</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>No special preparation is necessary.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>How the Test will Feel</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Why the Test is Performed</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>The RBC count is almost always part of a complete blood count (<a test="test" href="./003642.htm">CBC</a>) test.</p><p>The test can help diagnose different kinds of <a test="test" href="./000560.htm">anemia</a> (low number of RBCs) and other conditions affecting red blood cells.</p><p>Other conditions that may require an RBC count are:</p><ul><li>Bone marrow disorder in which the marrow is replaced by scar tissue (myelofibrosis)</li><li>Disease that damages kidney blood vessels (<a test="test" href="./000504.htm">Alport syndrome</a>)</li><li>Disorder in which red blood cells break down earlier than normal (hemolysis or <a test="test" href="./000534.htm">paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria</a>)</li><li>White blood cell cancer (leukemia or multiple myeloma)</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Normal Results</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p>Normal RBC ranges are:</p><ul><li>Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per microliter (cells/mcL)</li><li>Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL</li></ul><p>The ranges above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your health care provider about the meaning of your specific test results.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>What Abnormal Results Mean</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-6" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-6"><p>Higher than normal numbers of RBCs may be due to:</p><ul><li>Bone marrow disease that causes abnormal increase in RBCs (<a test="test" href="./000589.htm">polycythemia vera</a>)</li><li>Cigarette smoking</li><li><a test="test" href="./000982.htm">Dehydration</a> (for example, from severe diarrhea)</li><li>Failure of the right side of the heart (<a test="test" href="./000129.htm">cor pulmonale</a>)</li><li>Kidney tumor (renal cell carcinoma)</li><li>Low blood oxygen level (hypoxia)</li><li>Problem with heart's structure and function that is present at birth (<a test="test" href="./001114.htm">congenital heart disease</a>)</li><li>Scarring or thickening of the lungs (<a test="test" href="./000069.htm">pulmonary fibrosis</a>)</li></ul><p>Your RBC count will increase for several weeks when you are in a higher altitude.</p><p>Medicines that can increase the RBC count include:</p><ul><li>Anabolic steroids</li><li>Erythropoietin</li><li>Gentamicin</li><li>Testosterone</li></ul><p>Lower-than-normal numbers of RBCs may be due to:</p><ul><li>
Anemia
</li><li>Bleeding</li><li>Bone marrow cancer called <a test="test" href="./000583.htm">multiple myeloma</a></li><li>Bone marrow failure (for example, from radiation, toxins, or tumor)</li><li>Deficiency of a hormone called erythropoietin (caused by kidney disease)</li><li>Leukemia</li><li>Malnutrition</li><li>Pregnancy</li><li>RBC destruction (<a test="test" href="./002372.htm">hemolysis</a>) due to transfusion, blood vessel injury, or other cause</li><li>Too little iron, <a test="test" href="./002419.htm">copper</a>, folic acid, <a test="test" href="./002402.htm">vitamin B6</a>, or <a test="test" href="./002403.htm">vitamin B12</a> in the diet</li><li>Too much water in the body (overhydration)</li></ul><p>Medicines that can decrease the RBC count include:</p><ul><li>Chemotherapy medicines</li><li>Chloramphenicol and certain other antibiotics</li><li>Hydantoins</li><li>Methyldopa</li><li>Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)</li><li>Quinidine</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Risks</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-7" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-7"><p>There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.</p><p>Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:</p><ul><li>Excessive bleeding</li><li>Fainting or feeling lightheaded</li><li>Multiple punctures to locate veins</li><li>Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin)</li><li>Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Alt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Alt"><p>Erythrocyte count; Red blood cell count; Anemia - RBC count</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/10026t.jpg" alt="Blood test" title="Blood test" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/10026.htm">Blood test</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/19192t.jpg" alt="Formed elements of blood" title="Formed elements of blood" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/19192.htm">Formed elements of blood</a></li>
</ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>References</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Ref" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Gallagher PG. Hemolytic anemias: red blood cell membrane and metabolic defects. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. <em>Goldman-Cecil Medicine</em>. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 147.</p><p>Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM. Blood disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. <em>Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics</em>. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 124.</p><p>Means RT Jr. Approach to the anemias. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. <em>Goldman-Cecil Medicine</em>. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 144.</p><p>Pincus MR, Abraham NZ, Bluth M. Interpreting laboratory results. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. <em>Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods</em>. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 9.</p></div></div></section>
<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 3/11/2024</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. </p>
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