Final answer:
Evaluating RBC and hemoglobin levels is essential for assessing anemia treatments. Tests determining the size, number, and oxygen-carrying capacity of RBCs alongside the percent saturation help diagnose and monitor conditions such as anemia and polycythemia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Looking at RBC (red blood cells) and hemoglobin levels can evaluate the effectiveness of treatments for anemia. Anemia encompasses conditions in which the number or function is deficient of RBCs or in the levels of hemoglobin, affecting the oxygenation of tissues. It can be classified into three primary groups: due to blood loss, due to faulty or decreased RBC production, and due to excessive destruction of RBCs. Analyzing RBCs involves both kinetic and morphological approaches, with tests like mean corpuscle volume (MCV) and reticulocyte counts providing valuable data on RBC size and production. Polycythemia is a different disorder where there's an overproduction of RBCs, leading to an increased viscosity of the blood and presenting challenges in circulation. Further, methemoglobin, a form of hemoglobin that cannot bind oxygen efficiently, can accumulate due to certain drugs or workplace exposures, leading to decreased oxygen delivery and symptoms like cyanosis and dyspnoea. Understanding the percent saturation or percent sat, is also critical as it represents the percentage of hemoglobin that is occupied by oxygen and indicates how well oxygen is being transported throughout the body.