Which laboratory finding would indicate anemia?

Which laboratory finding would indicate anemia?

• A. Decreased RBC count
• B. Increased RBC count
• C. Normal RBC count
• D. Decreased WBC count

Answer: (A)

Anemia is reflected by reduced oxygen-carrying capacity due to lower red blood cell mass. A lab finding that directly indicates anemia is a decreased red blood cell count, because fewer RBCs mean less hemoglobin to carry oxygen. The other options don’t indicate anemia: an increased RBC count points to polycythemia, a normal RBC count would not signal anemia, and a decreased white blood cell count affects the immune system, not red cell mass. In practice, anemia is diagnosed when hemoglobin or hematocrit is low, often accompanied by a reduced RBC count.

Anemia is reflected by reduced oxygen-carrying capacity due to lower red blood cell mass. A lab finding that directly indicates anemia is a decreased red blood cell count, because fewer RBCs mean less hemoglobin to carry oxygen. The other options don’t indicate anemia: an increased RBC count points to polycythemia, a normal RBC count would not signal anemia, and a decreased white blood cell count affects the immune system, not red cell mass. In practice, anemia is diagnosed when hemoglobin or hematocrit is low, often accompanied by a reduced RBC count.