Final answer:
Anemia is a medical condition resulting from insufficient red blood cells or hemoglobin, causing reduced oxygen delivery to body tissues. Diagnosis includes assessing RBCs through a complete blood count (CBC) and other specific tests like hematocrit and reticulocyte count.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject in question is anemia, which is a medical condition characterized by a deficiency in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) or hemoglobin. This condition limits the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. Anemia can be classified into three major groups: those caused by blood loss, those caused by faulty or decreased RBC production, and those caused by excessive destruction of RBCs. The diagnosis often involves a kinetic approach that assesses RBC production, destruction, and removal as well as a morphological approach focusing on the size of the RBCs indicated by the mean corpuscle volume (MCV). The complete blood count (CBC) is a common blood test that evaluates the overall health of your blood, including the hematocrit and reticulocyte count, which help in assessing anemia and its severity.