Know your RBC. Know your health.
Test your Red Blood Cell Count and 100+ other biomarkers in a single blood draw.
Normal range: Above 4200000 cells/µL (higher is better)
The RBC count measures how many red blood cells are in a volume of blood. Red cells carry oxygen from your lungs to every tissue in your body. Low counts indicate anemia, which causes fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. High counts may signal dehydration, lung disease, or a bone marrow condition. RBC count is always interpreted alongside hemoglobin and hematocrit for the full picture.
A normal RBC is Above 4200000 cells/µL. Higher is better.
Low RBC count (anemia) is most often caused by iron deficiency, especially common in women of reproductive age, vegetarians, and frequent blood donors. Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, chronic kidney disease, and chronic inflammation also reduce red cell production.
Bone marrow disorders, heavy bleeding (menstrual or gastrointestinal), and certain medications (chemotherapy, some antibiotics) can lower the count. High RBC counts are usually caused by dehydration, smoking, or living at high altitude. Polycythemia vera (a rare bone marrow condition) causes persistently high counts.
Eating a diet rich in iron, B12, and folate supports healthy red cell production. If you have heavy periods or donate blood frequently, monitoring your RBC count and iron levels is especially important. Quitting smoking can help normalize an elevated count. Erythropoietin (EPO), used for chronic kidney disease-related anemia, directly stimulates red cell production.
RBC is most highly correlated with Absolute Neutrophils and White Blood Cell Count. Here are the top biomarkers correlated with RBC, based on 500,000 tests done by Empirical Health.
The percentage shows how strongly two biomarkers move together. A higher number means the relationship is stronger. Green = rises and falls together. Orange = one rises as the other falls.
You can test your RBC for $190 as part of Empirical's comprehensive health panel, which includes 100 biomarkers.
You can measure your RBC for at 2,200+ testing locations across the US. Click below and enter your zip code to browse locations near you.
Test your Red Blood Cell Count and 100+ other biomarkers in a single blood draw.