I am in the process of a job change so I had a complete physical including a CBC with Differential/Platelet. I got the results in the mail today showing that my MCV was high - 100fL and my neutrophils were high at 78%. The Cover sheet suggesting I see a Md (which I am trying to do already) had a box for “Red Cell Size (MCV)” checked. I did a quick online seach and came up with a few things ranging from anemia to Luekemia for th MCV. I rarely if ever drink, maybe 0-2 glasses of wine or beer/month so I doubt that is the casue. And the nuetrophil very likely may be the result of a sinus infection, but my WBC well within range at 6.9.
As a side note my hematocrit was on a high side, but not out of the norm at 48.3- which seems to be pretty normal for me as every time I have tested it has been high.
Those 2 test parameters alone mean nothing. If your WBCs were normal and neutrophils a little high, probably “explained” by your recent infection. That is a hight HCT though - good for endurance athletes! Do you live at altitude?
“Yes” about 100 feet above sea level here in the flats of Indiana. Actually I have been over 50% several times, back in college to get beer money I tried to donate Plasma and was refused due to high hematocrit. Good thing I am not a professional cyclist.
Here are my numbers from the CBC report
WBC 6.9 x10E3/ul
RBC 4.82x10E6/ul
Hemoglobin 15.4 g/dL
Hematocrit 48.3
MCV 100 fl
MCH 32.0 pg
MCHC 32.0 g/dL
RDW 14.0 %
Platelets 183 x10E3 /uL - Side note- the Nurse that took my blood noted that I was a bleeder- I always am after giving blood.
Neutrophils 78%
Lymphs 17%
Monocytes 4%
EoS 1%
Basos 0%
Nuetrophils (Absolute) 5.4 x10E3/uL
Lymphs (Absolute) 1.2 x10E3/uL
Monocytes (Absolute) .3 x10E3/uL
EoS (Absolute) .1 x10E3/uL
Baso (bsolute) 0
Given that your prior numbers are consistently higher than standard norms, this likely means nothing. The MCV is marginally elevated. It would be better to compare to regularly obtained values when you are healthy. Trends up and down would likely be more helpful to watch. Again, though, I think this isn’t a worrisome issue. Taking B12 or folate supplementation if you don’t already won’t hurt anything.
Your history of a recent sinus infection may change your white cell differential, but training stress will as well. I recently had the opportunity to review a handful of elite triathletes bloodwork who follow their numbers on a regular basis. There are interesting trends related to stress.
Couldn’t tell you, but if you can get your hands on some I’ll gladly run a one person trial for you. Shit I would hate to think what my Hematocrit would be if used that stuff. My poor heart would be pushing sludge.
The MCV is fairly high. If you are B12 deficient you don’t want to take folate it will make some of the effects, but not the effects of B12 deficiency on the Central Nervous system. I would want a B12 and folate level. Also, get a reticulocyte count, retics raise your MCV. If they are high why are you making a bunch of RBCs? Is it the blood you’re donating, occult blood loss, other?
Thanks for the reply. I have a hard time beleiving I am B12 deficient, I take a 1 a day Vitamin with 6mcg B12 and 400mcg of Folate I also eat a very well balanced diet including plenty of meat, although very low on the Red meats. I do not donate blood, the story I mentioned above was back in college some 15 years ago, and to the best of my knowledge i do not suffer from any form of blood loss.
I looked it up, because for pediatrics 100 is high. Apparently, in adults it is upper liimit of normal, but be that as it may, you can still be B12 deficient. ONe can lose the ability to absorb B12. Intrinsic factor is required for the absorption of B12. If it’s production is lost, one will not absorb B12, unless one takes a huge dose.