| WBC x 109/l | RBC x 109/l | Hb g/dl | ANC x109/l | Platelets x109/l |
Adult male | 3.7 to 9.5 | 4.3 to 5.7 | 13.3 to 16.7 | 1.7 to 6.1 | 143 to 332 |
Adult female | 3.9 to 11.1 | 3.9 to 5.0 | 11.8 to 14.8 | 1.7 to 6.1 | 143 to 332 |
West-Indian | 2.8 to 9.8 |
|
| 1.0 to 6.5 | 122 to 374 |
African | 2.8 to 7.8 |
|
| 0.9 to 4.2 | 115 to 342 |
Child of | 4 to 10 | 4.3 to 5.1 | 11.5 to 15.5 | 1.5 to 6.0 | 143 to 332 |
what all this means!
WBC = white blood cell count. The white blood cells help with fighting infection. If your white blood count is low you may hear the word leucopenia.
RBC = red blood cell count. The red blood cells contain haemoglobin.
Hb = haemoglobin concentration. Haemoglobin carries the oxygen in your blood. If your haemoglobin level is low, you may hear the word anaemia or be told that you’re anaemic. Anaemia may be corrected by a blood transfusion.
ANC = absolute neutrophil count. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that help fight infection. There are a few different types of white blood cells, and normally there are more neutrophils than other types of white blood cell. When you’re having chemotherapy, the doctors and nurses will particularly check the number of neutrophils before you can have your next treatment. If your neutrophil count is low, you’ll probably hear the word neutropenia or be told that you are neutropenic.
West-Indian and African people have different ‘normal’ ranges for white blood cells, neutrophils and platelets.
