Investigations

• Blood count
  • haemoglobin  ^a
  • mean cell volume ^a  
  • red cell distribution width ^a

  Combining the MCV and RDW results can help define potential causes of the anaemia. ^b  

   

• Blood film

   

• Urea and electrolytes ^d
• Liver function tests ^d
• Group and save serum ^d

^{Microcytic anaemia}

• ferritin ^a  

^{Macrocytic anaemia}

• serum folate ^d
• serum B ₁₂ (cobalamin) ^b  
• urine methylmalonic acid (MMA)  ^b or serum MMA ^b  

^{Iron-deficiency anaemia}

• gastroscopy and colonoscopy or barium enema/sigmoidoscopy ^c  

^{Cobalamin deficiency}

• intrinsic factor antibodies ^c   
• Schilling test  ^c  

^{Folate deficiency}

• dietary assessment ^d