Abstract
Background: This study was conducted to measure the hemoglobin (Hb) levels, erythrocytes, and related measurements (particularly mean corpuscular volume [MCV], mean corpuscular hemoglobin [MCH], mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC], and hematocrit) in healthy individuals donating blood at the National Blood Transfusion Center (NBTS) in Asmara city, Eritrea.
Methods: Venous blood samples were taken from the candidates' peripheral veins into the EDTA tube and examined for red blood cell(RBC) count, Hb, hematocrit (%),MCV, MCH, MCHC, and red cell distribution width (RDW), analyzed and measured by automated blood analyzer.
Results: The mean Hb level was 14.428 +/- 1.485g/dl, RBCs count was 4.744 +/- 0.482x10(12)/L, HCT was 41.929 +/- 3.75%, RDW mean was 13.571 +/- 0.744%, MCV was 88.582 +/- 4.0558 Femtoliter, MCH was 30.470 +/- 2.188 picogram, and MCHC was a mean of 34.393 +/- 1.347g/dl. The difference between males and females in MCV and MCHC was significant in favor of female donors. A correlation of a weak positive nature was found between the ages and genders of donors and the Hb level. All measured values were found to be within the global referenced ranges.
Conclusion: Hb, RBCs count, and RBCs indices of apparently healthy Eritrean blood donors were measured for reference, and all values were found to be within the normal reference ranges.