Classify anemia by MCV and RDW.
| Item | Formula / Rule | Source / Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Bessman classification | Combining MCV and RDW yields six categories, which discriminate better than MCV alone. | Bessman JD et al. 1983, American Journal of Clinical Pathology |
| RDW reference range | The usual RDW-CV reference range is 11.5% to 14.5%; higher values indicate anisocytosis. | Bessman JD et al. 1983 |
| Microcytic hypochromic grading | Microcytic hypochromia is graded by the degree of MCV and MCH reduction, helping to judge iron deficiency severity. | Bessman JD et al. 1983 & WHO 2011 |