Overview

• Usually measured in conjunction with other RBC parameters, and used to calculate mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH).

Sampling

Tests

Methodologies

• Hemocytometer counting chamber.
• Electronic cell counter.

Availability

• Widely available at commercial laboratories.
• May be done in practice.

Technician (extrinsic) limitations

• Manual method has low accuracy (+/- 20%) and low repeatability.

Result Data

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from VetMedResource and PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Cowell R L, Tyler R D & Meinkoth J H (1999) Diagnostic Cytology and Hematology of the Dog and Cat. 2nd edn. Mosby, USA.
• Duncan J R, Prasse K W & Mahaffy E A (1994) Veterinary Laboratory Medicine Clinical Pathology. 3rd edn. Iowa University Press, USA.
• Jain N C (1993) Essentials of Veterinary Hematology. Lea & Febiger, USA.