cbc · RBC
Red Blood Cell Count
The number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. It's read together with hemoglobin and hematocrit; low values suggest anemia, while high values can reflect dehydration, smoking, altitude, or other conditions.
This page is general wellness education, not medical advice. Your own lab’s reference range and your clinician’s interpretation always take precedence.
Typical reference range
| Group | General range |
|---|---|
| Men | 4.7 – 6.1 10^6/uL |
| Women | 4.2 – 5.4 10^6/uL |
Units: 10^6/uL. Ranges vary by lab and assay — read yours against the range printed on your own report.
What high Red Blood Cell Count can mean
- Dehydration
- Smoking
- Living at altitude
- Polycythemia
- Low oxygen states
What low Red Blood Cell Count can mean
- Iron/B12/folate deficiency
- Blood loss
- Chronic disease
- Kidney disease