Rdw Blood Test

Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) is a measure of the variation in the size of red blood cells in your bloodstream. It's typically reported as part of a complete blood count (CBC) and can help diagnose various health conditions. An RDW test measures the range of red blood cell sizes, providing valuable insights into your overall health.

RDW is crucial because it can indicate potential health issues. When your red blood cells vary significantly in size, it may be a sign of anemia, nutritional deficiencies, or other underlying conditions. Monitoring RDW can help doctors diagnose and manage these conditions early.

While RDW is not typically used in veterinary medicine, similar parameters specific to animal health are monitored by veterinarians. Blood tests for pets may include parameters that serve similar purposes as RDW in humans, but the terminology and reference values may differ.

RDW can provide hints about certain inherited red cell disorders, such as hereditary spherocytosis and elliptocytosis. However, a confirmed diagnosis typically requires more specific tests, like osmotic fragility tests and genetic analysis.