Medical Laboratory Scientist ASCP Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Study Guide

Administering a unit of red blood cells typically raises the hemoglobin levels in an adult by approximately 1 g/dL. This value represents a standard estimate used in clinical practice, whether in surgical settings or in the management of anemia. The rationale is based on the average volume and hemoglobin concentration of a unit of red blood cells, which is about 250-300 mL of packed red cells, containing roughly 15-20 g of hemoglobin.

When a unit is transfused, the body experiences an increase in the total hemoglobin content that corresponds to the increase in oxygen-carrying capacity. This relationship helps medical professionals gauge the effectiveness of blood transfusions in managing patients with low hemoglobin levels due to various conditions, including trauma, surgery, or chronic diseases.

As for the other options, while they may reflect individual variability in response to transfusions or other clinical considerations, they do not align with the general consensus of a 1 g/dL increase as being the typical response. It’s crucial for medical laboratory scientists to understand these dynamics to monitor transfusion effectiveness and patient outcomes accurately.