Red cell count (RCC)

Last updated: Friday, 02, April, 2004

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Item Process
Specimen

5 mL blood in EDTA tube.

2 mL blood in special paediatric EDTA tube.

Method

Part of FBC.

Electronic counting on automated and semi-automated instruments.

Manual method (visual count) less accurate.

Reference Interval

Infant: term cord blood: 4.0-6.0 x 1012/L

Child
3 months: 3.2-4.8 x 1012/L
1 year: 3.6-5.2 x 1012/L
3-6 years: 4.1-5.5 x 1012/L
10-12 years: 4.0-5.4 x 1012/L

Adult female: 3.8-5.8 x 1012/L
Adult male: 4.5-6.5 x 1012/L.

Application

Investigation of anaemia or erythrocytosis.

Interpretation

See Anaemia and Polycythaemia (Erythrocytosis).

Reference

Dacie JV and Lewis SM. Practical Haematology. 8th ed. Blackwell Science. 1995.