Question

If a patient specimen is slightly hemolyzed, which of the following RBC indices would be most affected?

A. Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
B. Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)
C. Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
D. Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)

Answer 1

If a patient specimen is slightly hemolyzed, the RBC index that would be most affected is the Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW).

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient specimen is slightly hemolyzed, the RBC index that would be most affected is the Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW).

RBC indices are measurements used to assess the size, shape, and hemoglobin content of red blood cells. The RDW specifically measures the variation in size of red blood cells. When a specimen is hemolyzed, the destruction of red blood cells leads to a greater variation in cell size, resulting in an increased RDW.