Red Blood Cells (RBC)
Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to every cell in your body and bring carbon dioxide back to your lungs to be exhaled.
Category: Complete Blood Count
Also known as: red blood cells, rbc, erythrocytes, red cell count, Red blood cell, Red blood corpuscle, Red blood corpusles, Red cell
Reference range: 4.5–5.5 x10⁶/µL (Source: ABIM)
Standard unit: x10⁶/µL
High values may indicate
High RBC count (polycythemia) may indicate dehydration, lung disease, heart disease, or polycythemia vera.
Low values may indicate
Low RBC count may indicate anemia, bleeding, bone marrow failure, nutritional deficiencies, or chronic kidney disease.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a normal Red Blood Cells (RBC) level?
- A typical reference range for Red Blood Cells (RBC) is 4.5–5.5 x10⁶/µL (source: ABIM). Reference ranges vary by laboratory, age, and sex, so always compare against the range on your own lab report.
- What units is Red Blood Cells (RBC) measured in?
- Red Blood Cells (RBC) is most commonly reported in x10⁶/µL. Labs in different countries may use other units — you can convert between them with BloodId's blood test unit converter.
- Where do Red Blood Cells (RBC) reference ranges come from?
- BloodId uses ABIM standard reference ranges and educational information from MedlinePlus (see our methodology). Reference ranges still vary by lab, age, and sex, so always compare against your own report.
- Can I track Red Blood Cells (RBC) over time?
- Yes. Upload results from any lab and BloodId charts your Red Blood Cells (RBC) over time against its reference range, so you can see whether the trend is rising, falling, or stable.
Related biomarkers
Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
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