“What does a diagnosis of anemia involve?”

Depending at what stage and what type of anemia you get. It is a very serious disease. Usually the patient feels tired, fatigue, sometimes unable to do their daily living activity. The complete blood count (CBC) is the most common test used to confirm anemia. It is part of the routine tests done. The complete CBC test the hemoglobin and hematocrit. The hemoglobin is the iron-rich protein part in the red blood cell that carries the oxygen. The hematocrit is a measure how much space the red blood cells take up in your blood. Low level of hemoglobin or hematocrit signify anemia. Everything has to do with the type of anemia and how it was acquired. For example, iron deficiency anemia due to blood loss or due to lack of nutrients, can be corrected by stopping the blood loss and eating food that are reach in iron. Diet: beans, dried fruits, eggs, lean red meat, salmon, iron-fortified bread and cereal, peas, tofu, dark green leafy vegetables (Spanish cucumber, broccoli) among others. No, anemia due to hereditary condition, the etiology (cause) of that condition needs to be assessed to find the right treatment. Severe anemia could be very serious. Loosing blood quickly can be fatal. The three main causes are red blood cell loss, lack of red blood production in the bone marrow or red cell destruction by the immune system. A hematologist would be a great choice. They will send the test to the lab. For analysis. But a complete work up is appropriate to find the etiology of the anemia. Thank you.

Your doctor will check a complete blood count and possibly an iron study. In the complete blood count, there are values called hemoglobin and hematocrit. These tests tell how much iron, which is a part of hemoglobin, there is in your red blood cells. The iron study will indicate how much iron is in your system and how it is being utilized.
Good luck.

RB Thomas, MD

Full blood count or picture is enough as first line diagnosis. If anemia is present then second line testing to rule outcause
1] blood loss 2] Thallasaemia 3] Iron deficiency 4] Folic acid/Vit. B12 deficiency.

Blood test will look for iron levels, storage, saturation and absorption. It will also look for vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies. Other test which can be ordered include zinc and copper levels, hemoglobinopathy evaluations, serum protein electrophoresis based on other constellation of symptoms and clinical concern.