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What Causes Low Hemoglobin Levels?
Question: hi doc. i had unprotected sex end of XXXXXXX and my 3 cbc results (July/Sept/October) shows:
high hemoglobin MCHC: 34.5/34.5/36
low WBC: 5.2/4.2/4.2/
high lymphocytes 0.61/0.46/0.46
high hemoglobin MCHC: 34.5/34.5/36
low WBC: 5.2/4.2/4.2/
high lymphocytes 0.61/0.46/0.46
Brief Answer:
not significant change
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
MCHC, MCV and MCH are used to when the HB is low as in anemia. They help to determine the type of anemia that is present.
They are not interpreted on their own. Your HB is within normal range and the MCHC is only 0.5 out of normal range. This would not be considered significant at all.
WBC (white blood cells) are used to determine if there is any evidence of infection. In an infection the WBC goes up. Your WBC is 5.2, the normal range on the form is 5 to 10 , which means that it is within normal range and there is no obvious sign of infection present.
There are different types of white blood cells. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell.
Because the white blood cell count is normal, the slight increase in the lymphocyte count would not be considered indicative of any conditions.
It would have to be high abnormal.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
not significant change
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
MCHC, MCV and MCH are used to when the HB is low as in anemia. They help to determine the type of anemia that is present.
They are not interpreted on their own. Your HB is within normal range and the MCHC is only 0.5 out of normal range. This would not be considered significant at all.
WBC (white blood cells) are used to determine if there is any evidence of infection. In an infection the WBC goes up. Your WBC is 5.2, the normal range on the form is 5 to 10 , which means that it is within normal range and there is no obvious sign of infection present.
There are different types of white blood cells. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell.
Because the white blood cell count is normal, the slight increase in the lymphocyte count would not be considered indicative of any conditions.
It would have to be high abnormal.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for the swift reply Doc.
Even though the figures are not that high or low coudl that be a trend? Right after the incident end of July why all the figures have mentioned changed from normal to outside the normal range (even slightly). whats the cause? This can not be all a coincidence and there must a reason for these sudden changes that shows up in 3 different CBC results isnt it?
Even though the figures are not that high or low coudl that be a trend? Right after the incident end of July why all the figures have mentioned changed from normal to outside the normal range (even slightly). whats the cause? This can not be all a coincidence and there must a reason for these sudden changes that shows up in 3 different CBC results isnt it?
Brief Answer:
not clinically significant
Detailed Answer:
HI
sorry about the delayed reply
If you are concerned regarding a possible infection remember that infections cause an increase in the WBC (white cell count).
White blood cells are responsible for fighting infections. Your WBC is normal, it is completely within the normal range, therefore this indicates that there is no infection detectable.
The Hb, Mcv, MCHC and MCH are not affected by infection. Low Hb is seen in anemia and the mcv,mch and mchc are used to determine the type of anemia. Not infection, nothing to do infections of any kind.
The mchc, mch and mcv are not interpreted on their own, they are used only along with the Hb,.
They are used along with the Hb to help figure out the type of anemia.
A slight change in any of these on their own is not significant if not accompanied by changes in the Hb
If you are worried about the possibility of infections, your doctor may be able to screen you
Please feel free to ask any other questions
not clinically significant
Detailed Answer:
HI
sorry about the delayed reply
If you are concerned regarding a possible infection remember that infections cause an increase in the WBC (white cell count).
White blood cells are responsible for fighting infections. Your WBC is normal, it is completely within the normal range, therefore this indicates that there is no infection detectable.
The Hb, Mcv, MCHC and MCH are not affected by infection. Low Hb is seen in anemia and the mcv,mch and mchc are used to determine the type of anemia. Not infection, nothing to do infections of any kind.
The mchc, mch and mcv are not interpreted on their own, they are used only along with the Hb,.
They are used along with the Hb to help figure out the type of anemia.
A slight change in any of these on their own is not significant if not accompanied by changes in the Hb
If you are worried about the possibility of infections, your doctor may be able to screen you
Please feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Ofcourse my main concern is STDs specifically HIV. There was a patient similar with my situation and doctor worried about std s and asked him to take the test maybe his number was higher than mine maybe not i dont know.
if you are exposed to hiv virus what woudl be the first changes in cbc readings? WBC would go low first and then higher or other way around and how about the other 2 item?
when you say i dont have infection does that also include a new hiv virus exposure?
if you are exposed to hiv virus what woudl be the first changes in cbc readings? WBC would go low first and then higher or other way around and how about the other 2 item?
when you say i dont have infection does that also include a new hiv virus exposure?
Brief Answer:
only hiv tests are used to diagnose hiv
Detailed Answer:
HI
The only and best way to determine if you have the HIV virus is by doing a HIV test.
Though the normal wbc means that you are not likely to have an infection, HIV can only be ruled out with a HIV test.
There are different types of HIV tests with different window periods. The window period of a test is the time between infection and when the infection can be detected by the particular test.
There are some HIV tests that have a window period of 2 to 3 weeks. This means that they can detect the virus by 2 to 3 weeks after infection.
The PCR hiv test has this window period, if you have this done, it would determine if you have HIV
It is important to remember, HIV is a immune virus, it affects the function of the immune system. You cannot use the wbc (immune response) to detect the virus, HIV tests detect HIV infection
IF anything else remains unclear, feel free to ask
only hiv tests are used to diagnose hiv
Detailed Answer:
HI
The only and best way to determine if you have the HIV virus is by doing a HIV test.
Though the normal wbc means that you are not likely to have an infection, HIV can only be ruled out with a HIV test.
There are different types of HIV tests with different window periods. The window period of a test is the time between infection and when the infection can be detected by the particular test.
There are some HIV tests that have a window period of 2 to 3 weeks. This means that they can detect the virus by 2 to 3 weeks after infection.
The PCR hiv test has this window period, if you have this done, it would determine if you have HIV
It is important to remember, HIV is a immune virus, it affects the function of the immune system. You cannot use the wbc (immune response) to detect the virus, HIV tests detect HIV infection
IF anything else remains unclear, feel free to ask
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
hi doc you said: 'WBC (white blood cells) are used to determine if there is any evidence of infection. In an infection the WBC goes up. Your WBC is 5.2, the normal range on the form is 5 to 10 , which means that it is within normal range and there is no obvious sign of infection present."
i had sent you the results mine came out twice 4.2!
i had sent you the results mine came out twice 4.2!
Brief Answer:
Human immunodeficiency virus
Detailed Answer:
HI
That is correct, WBC is an indicator of infection but is not used to diagnose a specific infection and is definitely not used to diagnose HIV.
When mentioned increase in WBC with infection was speaking in general - this is considered the response for most infections.
At that time, HIV was not specifically mentioned in your concerns.
Important to remember, HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It attacks the immune system therefore the normal immune response may or may not occur.
It is understandable to be concerned regarding HIV in any unprotected encounter but the ONLY way to determine if hiv is present is an HIV TEST.
Your doctor can easily have a test done for you. Then you would be able to definitely know your status.
Human immunodeficiency virus
Detailed Answer:
HI
That is correct, WBC is an indicator of infection but is not used to diagnose a specific infection and is definitely not used to diagnose HIV.
When mentioned increase in WBC with infection was speaking in general - this is considered the response for most infections.
At that time, HIV was not specifically mentioned in your concerns.
Important to remember, HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It attacks the immune system therefore the normal immune response may or may not occur.
It is understandable to be concerned regarding HIV in any unprotected encounter but the ONLY way to determine if hiv is present is an HIV TEST.
Your doctor can easily have a test done for you. Then you would be able to definitely know your status.
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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