Bloodless CenterOverviewBlood Counts and Anemia Printer Friendly Page

Blood has both solid and liquid components that flow through an intricate system of vessels. The different solids found in the blood are red blood cells which make up 45 percent, white blood cells which make up less than 1 percent and platelets which make up less than 1 percent. All of these solids are suspended in a light colored sticky fluid called plasma which makes up the remaining 54 percent.

White blood cells combat infections and produce antibodies to keep the body healthy. Platelets promote clotting and form in bone marrow. When platelets encounter a damaged blood vessel, they clump and stick to its walls in an effort to halt bleeding.

Of all the components in blood, only one of them is capable of carrying and delivering oxygen to the rest of the body: red blood cells. Red blood cells have several parts. The part responsible for carrying the oxygen is called hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin (hg) is measured in grams per 100 milliliters. The laboratory test used most often to obtain blood counts is called a Complete Blood Count or CBC. Normal hg values for men range from 13-18 grams per 100 milliliters. For women, the normal range is 12-16 grams and for infants, the normal range is 14-20 grams.

Sometimes, instead of using the number of red blood cells per 100mls of blood, the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is measured by the total number of red blood cells circulating in the total blood volume. When this method is used it is called the hematocrit (hct).

If the hemoglobin level drops below these normal ranges, a person is considered anemic or to have a low blood count. Anemia can range from mild to severe. The symptoms range from shortness of breath to dizziness, weakness, or paleness. Often mild anemia can be corrected by increasing iron consumption in the diet or by taking an over-the- counter iron supplement. It is always advisable to seek the advice of a physician for any newly developed or unexplained symptoms you may be experiencing. Anemia could also be a symptom of other underlying conditions.

In cases of severe anemia, a transfusion may seem like the best treatment. Historically, the transfusion trigger -- or the hemoglobin count that signaled most physicians to give a transfusion -- was a hemoglobin of 10. More recently, conventional medical practice has lowered the transfusion trigger to a count of 7. However, practitioners with expertise in the management and treatment of anemia, such as those at the University Center for Bloodless Surgery and Medicine at UMDNJ-University Hospital, don't make medical decisions based solely on numbers. Patients are evaluated to assess the severity of the anemia, including serious symptoms such as increased heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness etc., and the advisability of a transfusion is based on the individual patient's overall clinical status and not just on a number in a blood count.

At the University Center for Bloodless Surgery and Medicine, it is our responsibility to look for other options, to speak to our patients and to abide by their wishes. We want to help our patients make informed choices to get the best possible care available.

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