Anaemia Profile (Maxi) Test
The anaemia profile (maxi) test comprises of a series of blood tests used to diagnose anaemia caused by iron deficiency. Anaemia is a blood disorder characterized by a lower count of red blood cells or a reduced level of hemoglobin (which is responsible for carrying oxygen) in comparison to the normal range. This prevalent condition affects individuals of all genders, ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds. Thus, getting this test done is recommended to help in the diagnosis of blood disorders such as anaemia and to track the progress of its treatment.
Symptoms of anaemia
Pale skin
Fatigue
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Rapid heartbeat
Which tests are included in the Anaemia Profile (Maxi) test?
Different types of tests included in the anaemia profile (maxi) are:
Glucose-6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD), Quantitative:
-
Used to measure the amount of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase present in the blood. Its deficiency leads to a condition called G6PD deficiency, which is a genetic disorder mostly affecting males.
Abnormal Hemoglobin study (Hb Electrophoresis):
-
Used to measure the levels of hemoglobin and identify any abnormal forms of hemoglobin. It is primarily used in the diagnosis of anaemia, sickle cell disease, and various other hemoglobin disorders.
Complete Blood Count (CBC):
-
Used to measure several blood components, including red blood cells (RBCs)- which carry oxygen; white blood cells (WBCs)- which fight infection; hemoglobin (Hb)- which is an oxygen-carrying protein in RBCs; platelets- which help in blood clot formation, hematocrit value- which gives the proportion of red blood cells to the total volume of blood in the body, etc.
C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Quantitative:
-
Used to determine the amount of C - reactive protein (CRP) in the blood. The liver is responsible for the production of CRP in response to inflammation.
Creatinine, Serum:
-
Used to measure the creatinine levels in your blood. Creatinine is a waste product produced by the muscles as a result of routine metabolic activity.
Ferritin:
-
Used to measure how much iron is stored in the body. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron, which is essential for making healthy red blood cells.
Folate/Folic Acid, Serum:
-
Used to measure the levels of folate in the blood. Folate is a naturally occurring vitamin B9 found in many foods and is water-soluble.
Iron, Serum:
-
Used to measure the levels of iron present in the blood.
RBC Folate:
-
Used to measure the levels of folate in the red blood cells (RBC folate).
Reticulocyte Count:
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Used to measure the number of immature red blood cells (reticulocytes) in the blood. In the presence of particular anaemias, the body stimulates the production of red blood cells and releases them into the bloodstream before they have matured.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH):
-
Used to measure the levels of TSH in the blood. Thyroid stimulating hormone is produced by the pituitary gland.
Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC):
-
Used to measure how well iron binds to transferrin and other proteins in the blood. It is another way to measure how well the body transports iron.
Transferrin:
-
Used to measure the levels of transferrin present in the blood; transferrin is a protein that transports iron throughout the body.
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin):
-
Used to measure the level of vitamin B12 in the blood. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, mostly found in animal-based foods.
Who should get the Anaemia Profile (Maxi) test done?
This test is recommended for
Individuals with low levels of iron (anaemia)
Pregnant women
Individuals with acute blood loss caused by a surgery or a physical injury
Individuals who have suffered from a long-term illness
Babies and young children who lack iron-rich meals in their diet
Preparation for the test
Anaemia profile (maxi) test may require fasting for up to 12 hours, only drinking water during this time is recommended. Certain medicines may affect the results of this test, therefore ask your doctor for details about pre-test preparations, and make sure to follow instructions closely.
Interpretation of results
1. Glucose-6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD), Quantitative The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified 4 categories of phenotypes associated with G6PD deficiency.
|
WHO classification |
Clinical presentation |
G6PD activity |
|
I |
Chronic non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia (CNSHA) |
<10% |
|
II |
Asymptomatic unless triggered |
<10% |
|
III |
Asymptomatic unless triggered |
10%-60% |
|
IV |
None |
Normal |
2. Abnormal Hemoglobin study (Hb Electrophoresis)
|
Hemoglobin molecules |
Normal percentages |
|
HbA |
95% to 98% (0.95 to 0.98) |
|
HbA2 |
2% to 3% (0.02 to 0.03) |
|
HbE |
Absent |
|
HbF |
0.8% to 2% (0.008 to 0.02) |
|
HbS |
Absent |
|
HbC |
Absent |
3. Complete Blood Count (CBC)
|
Parameters |
Normal blood counts |
|
RBC count (Male) |
4.7 to 6.1 million cells/mcL |
|
RBC count (Female) |
4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL |
|
WBC count |
4,500 to 10,000 cells/mcL |
|
Hematocrit (Male) |
40.7% to 50.3% |
|
Hematocrit (Female) |
36.1% to 44.3% |
|
Hemoglobin (Male) |
13.8 to 17.2 gm/dL |
|
Hemoglobin (Female) |
12.1 to 15.1 gm/dL |
|
MCV |
80 to 95 femtoliter |
|
MCH |
27 to 31 pg/cell |
|
MCHC |
32 to 36 gm/dL |
|
Platelet count |
150,000 to 450,000/dL |
4. C-Reactive Protein (CRP), QuantitativeCreatinine, Serum
|
Range of CRP levels in milligrams per litre |
Inference |
|
0.5-3.0mg/L |
Normal |
|
3 -10 mg/L |
Normal or slightly elevated |
|
10 -100mg/L |
Moderately elevated |
|
>100mg/L |
Markedly elevated |
5. Creatinine, Serum
|
Adult |
Normal Range in milligrams per litre |
|
Men |
0.7-1.3 mg/dL |
|
Women |
0.6-1.1 mg/dL |
6. Ferritin
|
Parameters |
Normal ferritin test values in adults |
|
Male |
12 to 300 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) |
|
Female |
12 to 150 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) |
7. Folate/Folic Acid, Serum
|
Result in ng/mL |
Interpretation of values |
|
3.1-17.5 |
Normal |
|
2.2-3.0 |
Borderline deficient |
|
< 2.2 |
Deficient |
|
> 17.5 |
Excessive |
8. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
|
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) |
Normal levels in micro-International Units per millilitre (mIU/mL) |
|
Infants (up to 5 days old) |
0.7-15.2 mIU/mL |
|
Infants (6 - 90 days old) |
0.72-11.0 mIU/mL |
|
Babies (4 - 12 months old) |
0.73-8.35 mIU/mL |
|
Kids (1 - 6 years old) |
0.7-5.97 mIU/mL |
|
Kids (7 - 11 years old) |
0.6-4.84 mIU/mL |
|
Teens and young adults (12 - 20 years old) |
0.51-4.3 mIU/mL |
|
Adults (21 - 99 years old) |
0.27-4.2 mIU/mL |
Normal reference ranges for other test parameters
|
S.no |
Parameters |
Normal values |
|
1) |
Reticulocyte count |
0.5% to 2.5% |
|
2) |
Iron, Serum |
60 to 170 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) |
|
3) |
Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) |
240 to 450 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL |
|
4) |
Transferrin |
170-370 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) |
|
5) |
RBC Folate |
280.00-791.00 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) |
|
6) |
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) |
160 to 950 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL) |
Note: The above values are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may differ among different laboratories.
An abnormal anaemia profile test result indicates an anomaly in the blood parameters linked to anaemia. Conditions that could result in abnormal test findings include liver cell death, hepatitis, iron overdose, prolonged gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal disorders hindering iron absorption, and genetic blood disorders causing decreased RBC production such as Thalassemia. Talk to your healthcare provider to understand your specific test results.
FAQs
How is the sample collected for the anaemia profile (maxi) test?
A blood sample is collected from a vein in your arm using a small needle. Generally, this process is completed within five minutes.
What is the turnaround time (TAT) for the results of the anaemia profile (maxi) test?
You will usually get the test reports within 24 hours after the collection of the blood sample.
What are the risks associated with the anaemia profile (maxi) test?
There are no known risks associated with this test. During a blood test, one may experience minor pain or bruising where the needle was inserted, but most symptoms will subside quickly.
What factors can affect the anaemia profile (maxi) test result?
There are several factors that could influence the results of the anaemia profile (maxi) test, including your diet, use of iron supplements, and specific health conditions such as liver disease or cancer.
Who is at high risk of developing anaemia?
Some specific populations are more susceptible to developing anemia, such as pregnant or lactating women, individuals following a vegan diet, and those with chronic illnesses such as cancer.