Question

discuss what information a hematocrit, hemoglobin, and ESR test will provide to a physician.

Answer 1

To know what information hematocrit , hemoglobin , and ESR provide to physician we first have to know that what all these term means

1. Hematocrit .: It is the total presence of red blood cells in the whole blood volume per liter

For explanation

let the total blood volume is 5 ltrs so all the volume is not due to red blood cells . It also contain plasma cells , serum and rbc , platelets

Hematocrit tell us the percentage of red blood cell in blood

The normal range is

In female it is 37 - 47 percent

In male it is 40 -54 percent

What benefits physician have from this test ?

If hematocrit level is high then the probable diagnosis can be

Polycythemia - it is a condition in which RBC level increase in blood and blood become sticky and thick and there is problem in circulation of blood

If hematocrit level is low this is indicative of anemia

2. HEMOGLOBIN

It is a protein which is usually present in RBC ans which carries oxygen with it

Normal level of hemoglobin are

In female 11.5 to 16.5 g/dl

In men 13 to 18 g/dl

Diagnosis

If it is low then there is anemia

Now you will be confused between hematocrit and hemoglobin as both decrease in anemia

Let's understand this with a example

Assume RBC as a bag and hemoglobin as books inside the bag

Now if the bags are decreased then automatically books will decrease

So in the same way anemia is defined as the low conc of hemoglobin then the normal level of hb

Hemoglobin can also be helpful in diagnosis of some other condition such as thalassemia and sicke cell disorders

Condition in which hemoglobin is high

It is physiologically high in infants

It is high in patient who are living in high altitude

It is also more in patient with smoking habits

3. ESR erythrocyte sedimaention rate

It is not specific for any disease . It is a prognostic test which tell us that there is something wrong in the body

Normally what we do is take the blood and put it in Wintrobes tube and the erythrocyte sediment at the bottom of the tube

This ESR usually increase in inflammation but also increase in some other condition such as anemia , pregnancy , infection . It is not a diagnostic test . It only tells us that there is some problem in the body . Doctor usually do this test to check the progress of the treatment

Hope you find this helpful thankyou ☺️?