ABSTRACT
Evaluation of Anemias The causes of anemia are complex. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined the lower limit of normal for venous hemoglobin concentration as 13 g/dL in males older than 14 years living at sea level and as 12 g/dL in nonpregnant females. However, accurate interpretation requires the use of an appropriate age-, sex-, and raceadjusted reference range. An organized approach to the anemias is essential. After the history and physical examination, the initial evaluation of anemia begins with a complete blood cell count (CBC). With those results, anemias can be classified on the basis of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) as microcytic, macrocytic, or normocytic.
