Blood Typing and Hematocrit LP1

Principle Function of RBCs

Transport oxygen from the lungs to tissues

Hematocrit

The percentage of whole blood volume composed of RBCs

Men: 42% - 52% cells

Women: 37% - 48% cells

Hemoglobin

the iron‑rich protein inside red‑blood cells that binds oxygen in the lungs and carries it to tissues, then picks up carbon dioxide for transport back to the lungs

Men: 13 - 18 g/dL

Women: 12 - 16 g/dL

RBC Count

Men: 4.6 to 6.2 million/μL

Women: 4.2 to 5.4 million/μL

Polycythemia

an excess of RBCs

Primary Polycythemia

Cancer of erythropoietic cell line in red bone marrow

RBC count as high as 11 million RBCs/μL

Hematocrit 80%

Secondary Polycythemia

Causes include dehydration, emphysema high altitude, physical conditioning

RBC count up to 8 million RBCs/μL

Dangers of Polycythemia

Increased blood volume, pressure, and viscosity

Can lead to embolism, stroke, or heart failure

Anemia

Decreased oxygen-carrying capacity due to low levels of circulating RBCs or hemoglobin

Hemorrhagic Anemia

Caused from bleeding

Hemolytic Anemia

From RBC destruction

Inadequate erythropoiesis

Not enough hemoglobin synthesis

Hypoxemia

Insufficient oxygen levels in the blood, caused by respiratory or cardiac issues or low environmental oxygen

Symptoms include shortness of breath and a bluish skin tint

ABO/Rh blood group

Determines a person’s blood type and what blood types they would be compatible with

Agglutination

Clumping of blood when the antibodies of one sample bind to the antigens of another sample