Is it possible to get high RBC in blood test due to fasting?
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I had a blood test done two months back and my RBC was 6.0, hemoglobin 17.2, and hematocrit 51, which were all high especially RBC. The blood test was in the morning and I had not eaten or drunk for eight hours before. I am an 18-year-old 130 lb male, and I was wondering if the blood test was high because I had fasting and it was in the morning. My doctor told me it might be polycythemia and to go back for another test in three months.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
Dehydration for a prolonged duration can lead to a high RBC count, high hematocrit, and high hemoglobin levels. But eight-hour fasting cannot lead to such findings. It is advisable to repeat your test after a few days. Until then, keep yourself well-hydrated with lots of water. If still, it comes high after a few days, then further workup for polycythemia should be done in the form of EPO estimation, chest X-ray, EKG, and JAK2 mutation testing as per need.
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