Many people are familiar with red blood cells (RBCs). They are produced by the bone marrow and help to transport oxygen throughout the body. Counting the number of RBCs that are present is a standard component of a complete blood count that is ordered during routine examination. Most red blood cells that are counted are mature and healthy because the bone marrow isn’t supposed to release “infant” cells into the blood stream. That’s what the nucleated auto RBCs are like. They lack a nuclease and many of their cellular organelles.
When the RBC auto blood test comes back with any result that is other than .0, it can be very concerning. These normoblasts are common in infants, but not common in adults. When they are seen, it can be an indication of a serious condition. If all of the results of a complete blood count are normal, however, and the RBC auto blood test has a .1 result, this may not be medically significant. Only a medical provider, however, can determine what your results may mean.
Several Conditions Can Create Positive Results
Anemia is one of the most common medical conditions that is diagnosed in the world today. It is an indication that the oxygen carrying capabilities of the RBCs has been reduced for some reason. This causes the body to create more red blood cells to compensate and eventually immature ones are introduced into the blood stream because of the intense production levels. Treating severe anemia involves correcting the underlying cause.
If anemia is severe enough that not enough oxygen reaches certain parts of the body for a prolonged period of time, then a condition called hypoxia may occur. This eventually leads to the cells not being able to receive an adequate amount of oxygen even if the RBC levels can be restored to normal levels.
Positive RBC auto blood test results can also be achieved when the spleen is not functioning as it should. One of the jobs that the spleen has is to destroy immature RBCs that escape from the bone marrow. Although certain medications or treatments, such as chemotherapy, can temporarily cause this to happen, it may also be caused by sickle cell disease and other genetic risk factors as well.
When To See a Doctor
Because the RBC auto blood test is performed with the complete blood count, medical providers are going to take all results into consideration. The increase of this test result from a .0 baseline is considered with other potential risk factors. Since anemia is often the cause of nucleated cells being seen, knowing the signs and symptoms of this condition is important. There may be a lack of energy, a paleness to the skin, and an overall feeling of weakness. Some individuals may feel tired all of the time.
High RBC counts may also be attributed to an increased risk of having a positive RBC auto blood test result. High RBC counts are associated with a flushing of the skin, dizziness, headaches, and changes to eyesight. There may also be an enlarged spleen associated with the condition.
Most often the positive RBC auto blood test results are discovered when monitoring for other conditions. Kidney disease, bleeding problems, and chronic anemia that is persistent even with treatment can overstimulate the bone marrow and cause an excessive release of immature cells. Someone who is consistently dehydrated may also experience similar results, as will individuals with a long-term history of smoking.
Here’s What You Need to Know
Recent blood transfusions may affect the results of the RBC auto blood test. Although a medical provider should be aware of a recent transfusion, it is important to communicate this issue before the test is ordered. A recent transfusion may create a delay in having this test ordered.
It is not uncommon to see immature red blood cells after certain procedures, such as a stem cell transplant. This occurs because the bone marrow is working hard to create new cells after the transplant. It is especially common when stem cell transplants and other procedures are combined with medications like RevLimid, which is used to treat anemia and multiple myeloma.
For people who are normally healthy, an immature red blood cell can indicate a serious medical problem if the test results are consistent. For those going through treatments for medical conditions, however, high levels of nucleated RBCs is not uncommon and is often an expected side effective. The RBC auto blood test may be ordered to track the effectiveness.
The RBC auto blood test results explained here must be taken in the context of current health and the implementation of a treatment plan. The results may or may not be medically significant. For that reason, it is important to discuss any specific results with a medical provider as other tests and a person’s medical history have roles to play in the significance of certain test results.