How badly out is this (anaemia /iron levels )

[Mortigua]

Heamoglobin result was 113 and the range it should be is between 115-155.
MCV was 70 with range of 77-94. Is anyone able to work out how much of a worry this is? I know further tests are needed but can’t get hold of anyone (this is for my child hence the should be range is probably different to an adults ).

Why was the test done? The anaemia is very mild, MCV is basically the size of the red blood cells. If they are small it can indicate iron deficiency. You need to check iron and iron stores separately. Also, some ethnicities carry certain traits which mean naturally low MCV and mild anaemia.

Thanks for your reply. It was done due to a general check for a long standing condition but also due to lots of infections it was part of other tests. Do you know what the name for iron stores is? Her MCH is also low (23 with a range of 25-33. That’s good it’s mild though , presumably the MCV is only slightly out too then or maybe it doesn’t work like that?

From the normal range you're quoting for haemoglobin (115-155 g/L) I assume your son/daughter is between 6 and 12. The normal ranges for mean corpuscular volume (MCV) within this age band are between 74-91 fL (ages 6-7) and 77-89 fL (ages 11-12): www.nbt.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/Childrens%20FBC%20Reference%20Ranges.pdf.

To echo IheartNiles, why was the test done? The doctor must have had some reason to want to know whether your child is anaemic. Has she/he been ill recently?

Acute infections can sometimes cause anaemia, either through diverting bone marrow resources to production of white blood cells or producing mild haemolysis (breakdown of red cells in the circulation or premature breakdown in the spleen). Chronic disease of any kind, including infection, is often associated with anaemia. The doctor might just want to keep an eye on these numbers to see whether they improve a little when infections resolve, etc.

The marker of iron stores will commonly be serum ferritin. However, some diseases (inflammatory conditions) cause this measure to be artificially high, so the lack of iron stores might not be apparent. In those circumstances measures like serum iron and transferrin saturation might be used.

I hope she/he is feeling better soon.

Thank you . Lots of tests were done and these were included so could have been that as I’m not sure who ordered those particular ones (multiple teams involved and lots of tests at once as she was having an anaesthetic for something else . Lab report says further studies needed next to the low results bits .
She’s 12 and the acute infections bit makes sense as she has had several needing IV anti biotics over the last year . I expect they will re test to find out about iron stores in that case as I didn’t see serum ferritin on the list. The lab notes say something like electrophoresis required but I could have the name wrong!
Been waiting for a dr to call back but wasn’t sure even which department it was who would need to feed back about that one so it’s great to have more info now , less worry!

Got hold of a doctor today and no one seems to know who was checking the iron or why other than perhaps it was a standard thing with the procedure. They are doing some more tests for the iron levels though so that’s good

The lab notes say something like electrophoresis required but I could have the name wrong!

Has anybody mentioned thalassaemia as something to be checked for, or asked about genetic tests? Do you know whether anyone in your - or your daughter's father's - family has had a blood disorder? If they want to do haemoglobin electrophoresis I'd guess this is what they're looking for, but if she's reached the age of twelve without being diagnosed they would only be thinking of the possibility of a mild (minor) form.

They have said they will now decide which tests to do and some to repeat (related to other stuff ) nothing on thallasseamia mentioned so far. I think they think there may have been an issue with the actual blood samples now or at least arent sure

It might be mild but it can make you feel horrrible.
You are more prone to infections with anaemia
I think it is a horrible thing and it makes me anxious and slightly depressed
And my hair falls out!!

Yes I’ve had it before in pregnancy (and felt awful though the levels seem different measurements which is what threw me)that’s really interesting as she’s had so many problems and is definitely tired and has awful anxiety too!

the levels seem different measurements which is what threw me

The way haemoglobin concentrations are reported changed about 6 years ago. They used to be reported as g/dL but are now reported as g/L, so the numbers are ten times bigger, e.g. a 2013 measurement of 11.5 g/dL would now be reported as 115 g/L.

my iron reading was 3. 3 what i dont know but i do know id got to the point i couldnt get out of bed until around noon and was back in bed for 9pm unless i was working i was told normal levels were up to 204 . so i think mine was pretty low.

ive been on supplements for 3 weeks , feel so much better! i felt like my body was made of lead! now im going running again!

Ah I see so her 113 is 11.3 when it should be 11.5 - 15.5! Now I can see that that isn’t too badly low then! Thank you. They are still requesting extra tests but that could be due to the MCV etc then.
Copper no wonder you felt awful then ! That’s great the tablets have worked so well.