Erythrocyte count; Red blood cell count

The general the range is as follows:

• Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per microliter (cells/mcL)
• Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL

Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

Higher-than-normal numbers of RBCs may be due to:

• Cigarette smoking
• Congenital heart disease
• Cor pulmonale
• Dehydration (such as from severe diarrhea)
• Kidney tumor (renal cell carcinoma)
• Low blood oxygen levels (hypoxia)
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Polycythemia vera

Your RBC count will increase for several weeks when you move to a higher altitude.

Drugs that can increase the RBC count include:

• Gentamicin
• Methyldopa

Lower-than-normal numbers of RBCs may be due to:

• Anemia
• Bone marrow failure (for example, from radiation, toxins, or tumor)
• Erythropoietin deficiency (secondary to kidney disease)
• Hemolysis (RBC destruction) due to transfusion, blood vessel injury, or other cause
• Hemorrhage (bleeding)
• Leukemia
• Malnutrition
• Multiple myeloma
• Nutritional deficiencies of:
  • Iron
  • Copper
  • Folate
  • Vitamin B-12
  • Vitamin B-6
• Overhydration
• Pregnancy

Drugs that can decrease the RBC count include:

• Chemotherapy drugs
• Chloramphenicol
• Hydantoins
• Quinidine

Images

Red blood cell production

Formed elements of blood

High blood pressure tests

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RBC count Overview

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RBC count Risks

Review Date: 02/09/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)