Some blood indices in three groups of Nigerians and in very severe but ambulatory cases of anaemia.

This study determined the haemoglobin concentrations, packed cell volumes and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations of healthy students and soldiers as well as "non-anaemic" outpatients. The same indices were also determined in small groups of moderately and severely anaemic but fully ambulatory outpatients. On the basis of the haemoglobin values most commonly observed in healthy male subjects it is suggested that the usual or "normal" haemoglobin concentration of a healthy male adult averages 14-7 gm. per cent; the packed cell volume averages 44 per cent and the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration averages 32-6 per cent. It is further suggested that subjects with haemoglobin values less than 11-0 gm. per cent (75 per cent of normal average) should probably be sent for further haematological investigations because such persons are probably anaemic. This study also reports some startlingly low haemoglobin values in fully ambulatory outpatients. There tended to be a compensatory rise in pulse rates as the degree of severity of anaemia increased.