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Red Blood Cell Count (RBC)

Red Blood Cells carry oxygen throughout the body to the local tissues and exchange it for carbon dioxide.

They are produced in the bone marrow and live for about 4 months before they are taken out of the circulation by the liver, spleen and bone marrow.

The RBC count determines the number of red cells per unit volume.

The RBC Count is Increased in the Presence of:

Hemoconcentration
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
CHF (congestive heart failure)
Smokers
Pre-eclampsia

The RBC Count is Decreased in the Presence of:

Anemia
Leukemia
Hyperthryroidism
Chronic liver disease
Hemolysis:
- Transfusion reaction
- Drug/chemical reaction
- Infection
- Burns
- Mechanical disruption (artificial heart valves)
Systemic Disease
- Cancer
- Lupus
- Sardoidosis

Special Considerations

During pregnancy, while the total red cell mass increases, the RBC Count falls because of dilutional effects
Adaptation to high altitudes includes moderate elevation of RBC Count.
During the initial phases of an acute hemorrhage, the RBC count generally doesn't change very much. Later, as extracellular fluid is mobilized and IV fluids are incorporated, there is a dilutional effect that will lead to a reduced RBC count. This fall in RBC count may take several hours to develop.

Normal Values*

	x 100,000/ľl
Men	4.2-5.4
Women	3.6-5.0

*These are general values taken from a variety of sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one type of testing protocol to another.

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Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Department of the Navy
2300 E Street NW
Washington, D.C
20372-5300

Operational Medicine
Health Care in Military Settings
CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR
NAVMED P-5139
January 1, 2001

United States Special Operations Command
7701 Tampa Point Blvd.
MacDill AFB, Florida
33621-5323

*This web version is provided by The Brookside Associates Medical Education Division. It contains original contents from the official US Navy NAVMED P-5139, but has been reformatted for web access and includes advertising and links that were not present in the original version. This web version has not been approved by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. The Brookside Associates is a private organization, not affiliated with the United States Department of Defense.

Operational Medicine 2001
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