The Impact of RBC Transfusion on Histogram Distribution

What would an RBC histogram look like after transfusion?

A) The RBC histogram would show a narrower distribution with smaller MCV values.

B) The RBC histogram would display a broader distribution with larger MCV values.

C) The RBC histogram would remain unchanged after transfusion.

D) The RBC histogram would have a sawtooth pattern.

Answer:

The correct answer is B) The RBC histogram would display a broader distribution with larger MCV values after a transfusion.

After a transfusion, the RBC histogram would show a broader distribution because the patient would receive new red blood cells with varying sizes. Transfused blood is often given in packed red blood cell units, which contain a mixture of different-sized cells. This would result in a wider range of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values in the RBC histogram.

For example, if the patient had anemia with predominantly smaller microcytic red blood cells before the transfusion, the histogram would show a narrower distribution with smaller MCV values. However, after the transfusion, the histogram would display a broader distribution with larger MCV values due to the presence of new, larger red blood cells.

After a transfusion, the RBC histogram would generally display a broader distribution with larger mean corpuscle volume (MCV) values. Option B is likely the correct answer. This is because the transfused blood is likely to have RBCs of varying sizes, which can cause the overall distribution of cell sizes to widen. If the transfused blood has more normocytic or macrocytic cells (which is likely in a transfusion scenario as blood banks typically store blood that is normocytic), the average size of RBCs might increase, reflecting in the MCV and thus, in a broader histogram distribution. Moreover, transfused RBCs will have a different lifespan and physical characteristics than the patient's original RBCs, which can also contribute to a broader histogram profile.