Lab value woes

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by babygal2000
Oct 2, '02   Views: 1,853   Comments: 5

  1. Hi! I lurk here often, but this is my first time posting. I'm currently in my second clinical and have a question regarding a lab value for one of my patients. She is a post c/section mom. One of her values states that her RDW is low. Does anyone know what RDW is and why it would be low? Thanks so much! :roll

    ~Angie
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    About babygal2000

    Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 3
    Nursing Student, Wife and Mom

    5 Comments

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  3. by kelligrl
    Oct 2, '02
    Occupation: RN Joined: Jan '02; Posts: 347
    RDW is an indication of the variation in RBC size. RBC's are usually all approximately of the same size. Some type of anemia, maybe?
  4. by babygal2000
    Oct 2, '02
    Occupation: Nursing Student, Wife and Mom Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 3
    Thank you so much! You are a lifesaver!
  5. by Rena RN 2003
    Oct 2, '02
    Joined: May '02; Posts: 726; Likes: 17
    :chuckle red cell distribution width

    i have a great lab book.

    laboratory and diagnostic tests with nursing implications, sixth edition by joyce lefevere kee


    great reference book.
  6. by canoehead
    Oct 3, '02
    Joined: Oct '00; Posts: 8,729; Likes: 8,411
    Seems to me that if someone has had a big bleed the less mature RBC's can be sent out to help with O2 transport resulting in a smaller average width.
  7. by nightingale
    Oct 3, '02
    Occupation: RN, CLNC, Entrepreneur Joined: Apr '01; Posts: 6,312; Likes: 106
    I just love the way understanding the body makes such wonderful sense (with the proper reference material and resources to help with the explanation). Thanks for the explanation.

    Welcome babygirl... I hope you post often!
    Last edit by nightingale on Oct 3, '02

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