Anemia Panel

The 19 tests in this panel

What each one measures and the range labs usually print for adults. Ranges differ a little between labs, so the range on your own report is the one your result is judged against.

• Hemoglobin

  The oxygen-carrying protein in your red blood cells. It is the main number used to check for anemia.

  Men, 16+

  13–17.7 g/dL

  Women, 16+

  11.1–15.9 g/dL

• Hematocrit

  The share of your blood made up of red blood cells, shown as a percent. It usually moves together with hemoglobin.

  Men, 13+

  37.5–51 %

  Women, 13+

  34–46.6 %

• Red Blood Cell Count

  The number of red blood cells in a sample of your blood. These cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.

  Men, 18+

  4.3–5.7 ×10⁶/µL

  Women, 18+

  3.9–5 ×10⁶/µL

• Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

  The average size of your red blood cells. It helps show whether they run smaller or larger than usual.

  18+

  80–100 fL

• Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)

  How much hemoglobin, on average, each of your red blood cells carries.

  18+

  27–33 pg

• Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)

  How concentrated the hemoglobin is inside your red blood cells, which shows how pale or dense they are.

  18+

  32–36 g/dL

• Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW-CV)

  How much your red blood cells vary in size. A higher number means a wider mix of small and large cells.

  Adults

  11.7–15.4 %

• Reticulocyte Count (Percent)

  The share of your red blood cells that are brand new. It shows how actively your bone marrow is making red cells.

  18+

  0.6–2.71 %

• Reticulocyte Count (Absolute)

  The number of reticulocytes (very young red blood cells) in a set amount of blood. It shows how many new red cells your bone marrow is releasing.

  18+

  30.4–110.9 ×10³/µL

• Iron, Serum

  The amount of iron travelling in your blood at the moment of the draw. It swings with meals, supplements and the time of day.

  Men, 18+

  38–169 µg/dL

  Women, 18–59

  27–159 µg/dL

  Women, 60+

  27–139 µg/dL

• Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)

  How much iron your blood's carrier protein, transferrin, could hold in total. It usually rises when iron stores are low.

  18+

  250–450 µg/dL

• Transferrin Saturation

  The percentage of your blood's iron-carrying protein that is loaded with iron right now, worked out from serum iron and TIBC.

  Adults

  15–55 %

• Ferritin

  A protein that stores iron in your cells. The small amount in your blood reflects how much iron your body has in reserve.

  Men, 20–59

  30–400 ng/mL

  Men, 60+

  31–409 ng/mL

  Women, 20–59

  15–150 ng/mL

  Women, 60+

  11–328 ng/mL

• Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

  Measures the vitamin B12 in your blood. Your nerves and red blood cells need B12, so this is the usual first check of your B12 status.

  Adults

  232–1,245 pg/mL

• Folate (Vitamin B9), Serum

  Measures folate (vitamin B9) in your blood. It mostly reflects what you ate recently, and it helps explain anemia and low folate intake.

  Adults

  3 and above ng/mL

• Folate, Red Blood Cell

  Measures the folate stored inside your red blood cells. It reflects your folate status over roughly the past three to four months.

  Adults

  280 and above ng/mL

• Haptoglobin

  A protein made by the liver that binds free hemoglobin. A low level can be a clue that red blood cells are breaking down faster than normal.

  Adults

  30–200 mg/dL

• Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)

  An enzyme found in almost every tissue. A higher level can be a general sign of cell or tissue damage, and it does not point to one condition.

  Men, 18+

  121–224 U/L

  Women, 18+

  119–226 U/L

  18+

  125–220 U/L

• Bilirubin, Total

  A yellow pigment made when old red blood cells break down. Your liver clears it, so the level reflects red cell turnover and bile flow.

  18+

  0–1.2 mg/dL