Anemia Workup Algorithm

HEMATOLOGY-ONCOLOGY

Anemia Workup Algorithm.

Initial steps in evaluating anemia

  1. Hemoglobin – That’s how we diagnose anemia and determine severity. From CBC.
  2. MCV – This helps classify it down into Microcytic, Normocytic, and Macrocytic Anemias. From CBC.
  3. Reticulocyte count – This gives information about the bone marrow response and so whether the anemia is originating from failure of bone marrow to make hemoglobin or if the bone marrow is doing its job but the RBCs are destroyed outside the bone marrow.
  4. Blood Smear – Helps us look at RBC morphology for things like sickle cells, ringed sideroblasts, hypochromia, etc.
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