Red Cell Indices: Hemoglobin and Hematocrit CDC guidelines for prevention, detection and treatment of iron deficiency
low cost and the ease and rapidity in performing
Hb is the more direct and sensitive measure
Hct it falls only after the Hb concentration falls
cigarette smoking cause a generalized upward shift in Hb concentration and Hct (adjustment)
cannot be used to determine the cause of anemia
a diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia can be made if Hb or Hct increases after a course of therapeutic iron supplementation