What is Rdw in a CBC?

What is Rdw in a CBC?

The red cell distribution width (RDW) test measures variation in red blood cell size or red blood cell volume as a part of a complete blood count (CBC), and it is used along with other RBC indices, especially mean corpuscular volume (MCV), to help determine the causes of anemia.

What is high RDW in blood test?

High results If your RDW is too high, it could be an indication of a nutrient deficiency, such as a deficiency of iron, folate, or vitamin B-12. These results could also indicate macrocytic anemia, when your body doesn’t produce enough normal red blood cells, and the cells it does produce are larger than normal.

What is the difference between megaloblastic anemia and Macrocytic anemia?

Megaloblastic anemia is caused by deficiency or impaired utilization of vitamin B12 and/or folate, whereas nonmegaloblastic macrocytic anemia is caused by various diseases such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), liver dysfunction, alcoholism, hypothyroidism, certain drugs, and by less commonly inherited disorders of …