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Assess your red blood cell count and understand what it means for your health
Also called erythrocyte count
RBCs (erythrocytes) carry oxygen throughout your body. The count helps evaluate your blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.
Red blood cells (RBCs or erythrocytes) are the most numerous blood cells. They contain hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen from your lungs to all tissues and returns carbon dioxide back to the lungs for exhalation.
RBC count is part of a Complete Blood Count (CBC). While it tells you the number of red cells, other tests like hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC) provide additional information about red cell size and hemoglobin content.
| Test | What It Measures | Why It's Important |
|---|---|---|
| RBC Count | Number of red cells per volume | Baseline count of oxygen carriers |
| Hemoglobin | Amount of oxygen-carrying protein | Direct measure of oxygen capacity |
| Hematocrit | % of blood volume as RBCs | Blood concentration indicator |
| RBC Indices | Size and Hb content of RBCs | Helps classify type of anemia |