RDW 11.7 % in your blood test results

You received your blood test result with a RDW value of 11.7 %. This analysis helps you to check if your RDW value is within normal range.

Your RDW value of 11.7 % is too low. A good Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) is usually between 11.8 and 15.6 %.

Increase your Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) by 0.1 % to be within normal range.

Please note: gender influences the normal range of the RDW level. For men, 11.8 - 15.6 % are considered normal, while for woman values between 11.9 and 15.5 % are within normal range.

Causes

A low RDW can be caused by several factors:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Thalassemia
  • Chronic anemia
  • Vitamin B6 deficiency
People who are at high risk of developing a low RDW include those affected by any of the factors listed above, as well as those with cardiovascular disease or myocardial infarction.

Treatment & Medication

A normal RDW is between 11.8 and 15.6 for males and between 11.9 and 15.5 for females. A low RDW alone is not a cause for concern as this merely indicates the red blood cells are uniform in size, as opposed to varying in size. However, a low RDW is not an indication that all is well in the body either, as there are many components in a Complete Blood Count test. For example, the Mean Corpuscular Volume, MCV, is often analyzed together with the RDW to diagnose and rule out various blood disorders and other conditions. If the RDW is low, and the results of a CBC test are abnormal, additional tests should be conducted. For patients showing no symptoms, treatment for a low RDW is generally not prescribed.

Useful Information

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW or RDW-CV or RCDW and RDW-SD) is a measure of the range of variation of red blood cell (RBC) volume that is reported as part of a standard complete blood count.


Additional Information