What does a hemoglobin of 14.5 g/dL, red blood cell count of 4.48 million/µL, and mean corpuscular volume of 96.4 fL indicate in an adult female?

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Interpretation of Hemoglobin 14.5 g/dL, RBC 4.48 million/µL, and MCV 96.4 fL in an Adult Female

These values represent completely normal hematologic parameters for an adult female, with hemoglobin in the mid-normal range, red blood cell count within normal limits, and a normocytic mean corpuscular volume.

Normal Reference Ranges for Adult Females

  • Hemoglobin of 14.5 g/dL falls well within the normal range for adult females (12.0-16.0 g/dL), which is defined by the 5th to 95th percentile of healthy populations 1, 2.

  • The RBC count of 4.48 million/µL is normal for females, as typical reference ranges span approximately 4.0-5.5 million/µL 1.

  • MCV of 96.4 fL indicates normocytic red blood cells, falling within the normal range of approximately 80-100 fL 1, 3.

Clinical Significance

  • This hemoglobin level excludes anemia, as the World Health Organization defines anemia in non-pregnant women as hemoglobin <12.0 g/dL 2, 4.

  • The normocytic MCV (96.4 fL) indicates adequate iron availability and normal red cell maturation, as iron deficiency typically produces microcytosis (MCV <80 fL) while vitamin B12/folate deficiency produces macrocytosis (MCV >100 fL) 1, 3.

  • These values do not suggest erythrocytosis or polycythemia, as hemoglobin remains well below the threshold for erythrocytosis in women (>16.5 g/dL) 5, 6.

Physiological Context

  • The slightly higher-normal MCV (96.4 fL) may reflect adequate iron stores, as iron-replete individuals tend toward the upper end of the normal MCV range, while early iron deficiency can manifest as normal MCV before frank microcytosis develops 1, 7.

  • Gender-specific differences in hemoglobin emerge at puberty due to testosterone and estrogen effects, with adult females maintaining lower hemoglobin levels (14.0 ± 2.0 g/dL) compared to males (15.5 ± 2.0 g/dL) 1.

No Further Workup Required

  • No additional testing is indicated for these normal values in an asymptomatic individual, as hemoglobin of 14.5 g/dL represents the 50th-75th percentile for healthy adult females 1, 4.

  • If symptoms of anemia exist despite normal hemoglobin, consider functional iron deficiency by checking serum ferritin and transferrin saturation, as tissue iron deficiency can occur even with normal hemoglobin in some contexts 1, 5.

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

5
Guideline

Assessment Protocol for Incidental Erythrocytosis

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

6
Guideline

Diagnostic Approach to Elevated Hemoglobin and Immature Granulocytes

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

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This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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