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by red blood cells. If forty percent of the blood
consists of red blood cells then the hematocrit is 40 volumes percent.
A low hematocrit is a sign of anemia. Such anemia may be
from nutritional factors, blood loss (bleeding) or other
disease processes.
Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin makes up about 1/3 of all red blood cells. As
such, it is directly proportional to the hema-tocrit.
Hemoglobin is the chemical which allows blood to carry
oxygen from the lungs. Iron is important in the chemical
structure of hemoglobin. A low hemoglobin also represents
anemia.
White Blood Count
White blood cells are a normal component of blood. Their
primary function is as a defense against infections. An elevated
white blood cell count may be a sign of infection. Some viral
infections may lower the white blood count. There are 5 different
types of white blood cells. Increases or decreases in these cells
may indicate particular medical conditions.
Platelets
Blood platelets are a component of blood which are important in
blood clotting (to stop bleeding). Platelets act by “sticking’ to
each other and “clotting” the bleeding site. Aspirin affects the
clotting of blood by decreasing the effectiveness of platelets.
Other
There are other tests which comprise the CBC. Explanations are
beyond the scope of this text.
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