In anemia, which laboratory value is typically decreased?

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Multiple Choice

In anemia, which laboratory value is typically decreased?

Explanation:
Anemia means there are fewer red blood cells or less hemoglobin, so the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity drops. Hematocrit measures the proportion of blood made up of red blood cells, so when red cells are reduced, hematocrit falls. White blood cells and platelets relate to other blood functions and can vary for reasons unrelated to anemia, so they aren’t the characteristic change. Glucose is a metabolic value not tied to anemia. Therefore the hematocrit is typically decreased in anemia.

Anemia means there are fewer red blood cells or less hemoglobin, so the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity drops. Hematocrit measures the proportion of blood made up of red blood cells, so when red cells are reduced, hematocrit falls. White blood cells and platelets relate to other blood functions and can vary for reasons unrelated to anemia, so they aren’t the characteristic change. Glucose is a metabolic value not tied to anemia. Therefore the hematocrit is typically decreased in anemia.

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