Hematology & Immunology — Normative Values Cheat Sheet

Pathophysiology (Schaumberg) · Hematology · Lymphatic · Immune Response modules

Mastery test: “Can I speak to it?” — cover the right column and recite the range + why it matters.

1. Red Cell / Oxygen-Carrying Values ⭐ (“Must know these values!”)

Value	Normal range (per slides)	Why it matters
Hematocrit (HCT)	Female 37–47% · Male 42–52%	% of whole blood that is RBC. ↓ = anemia, ↑ = polycythemia. Lower in elderly.
Hemoglobin (Hb)	Male 14–17 g/dL · Female 12–16 g/dL	O₂-carrying capacity. ↓ Hb = ↓ O₂ delivery = fatigue, ↓ exercise tolerance.
Blood composition	Cellular ≈ 45% of blood; RBC >99% of cells; WBC & platelets <1%	RBC ≈ 48% of blood volume in men, ≈ 42% in women.
RBC lifespan	~120 days	Made in bone marrow, cleared by spleen.

🔗 Cross-module: low albumin → ↓ oncotic pressure → edema/lymphedema is the recurring connective thread — Hb/HCT sit on the cellular side of the “composition of blood” objective.

2. Platelets & Clotting ⭐

Value	Normal range (per slides)	Why it matters
Platelet count	150,000–400,000 /µL (150–400 k/µL)	Some slides list the lower bound as 140k — either may appear on the exam.
Prothrombin time (PT)	11–13 sec	>25 sec = high bleeding risk. Liver-made, needs vitamin K.
Thrombocytopenia	< 150 k/µL	Inadequate marrow production → bleeding/bruising risk.
Thrombocytosis	> 450 k/µL	→ thrombosis / thromboembolism.

🔗 Clot spectrum (know the order): thrombus → embolus → embolism → infarction.

3. PT Exercise Cutoffs Tied to These Values ⭐ (high-yield — where the numbers get “used”)

Hemoglobin: - < 5–7 g/dL → death · > 20 g/dL → capillary clogging - < 8 g/dL with HCT < 25% → restrict activity/exercise - 8–10 g/dL → aggressive strengthening/endurance training contraindicated; ADLs, simple transfers - 10–12 g/dL → low-impact/low-intensity aerobics, isometric/gentle resistive exercise - Always look at trends; chronic anemia vs. acute blood loss; communicate with team

Platelets: - 40,000–60,000 /µL → ↑ post-surgical/traumatic bleed risk; low-load (1–2 lb); walking, light bike, minimal ADLs - 20,000–40,000 /µL → low-intensity, no weights/resistance; up to 2 lb permitted but no resistance on bike - < 20,000 /µL → more stringent restriction - < 10,000 /µL → spontaneous CNS / GI / respiratory bleeding possible

4. Immunology ⭐ (from the Immune Response deck)

4a. WBC / Leukocyte bloodwork — the numeric norms

Her deck uses SI units (×10⁹/L). 1.0 ×10⁹/L = 1,000 /µL, so 5.0–10.0 ×10⁹/L = 5,000–10,000 /µL.

Value	Threshold (per slides)	Meaning
Leukocyte reference value	5.0–10.0 ×10⁹/L	Normal total WBC
Leukocytosis	> 11.0 ×10⁹/L (trending up)	Infection, inflammation, malignancy
Leukopenia	< 4.0 ×10⁹/L (trending down)	Low WBC
Neutropenia	< 1.5 ×10⁹/L	Low neutrophils
— Moderate neutropenia	0.5–1.0 ×10⁹/L
— Severe neutropenia	< 0.5 ×10⁹/L	High infection risk

4b. Cell distribution percentages — memorize these

Cell	%	Key role
Neutrophils	up to 80% of WBC	Most plentiful WBC; first responder to infection; ↑ = bacterial infection
T-cells	70% of lymphocytes	Cell-mediated adaptive immunity
B-cells	25% of lymphocytes	Humoral (antibody) immunity
NK cells	5% of lymphocytes	Innate; kill virus-infected & cancer cells (perforins → lysis)

4c. Immunoglobulins — know the function (she says biochemical properties are NOT on the exam)

Ig	Role
IgG	Major antibacterial / antiviral antibody
IgM	Initial immune response; expressed on B-cell receptor surface
IgE	Binds mast cells & basophils → allergic response

IgA and IgD aren’t listed on her deck — don’t memorize numeric Ig ranges for this exam.

4d. T-cell subsets

CD4⁺ T-helper → activates B-cells (antibody release), cytotoxic T-cells, macrophages. HIV attacks these. Most important adaptive cell.
CD8⁺ cytotoxic T → kills virus-infected/tumor cells via perforin + granzyme → apoptosis; MHC-1; transplant rejection.
Regulatory T → shuts down the response; suppresses autoreactive T-cells (autoimmunity).

4e. Fast conceptual must-knows

Innate = first line, 0–6 hrs, non-specific, no memory (neutrophils, macrophages, APCs, NK, complement). Adaptive = >12 hrs, specific, has memory (B + T cells).
Lymphoid structures: Primary (clonal diversity — make immunocompetent B/T cells) = bone marrow, thymus. Secondary (clonal selection) = spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils/adenoids, Peyer patches.
Cardinal signs of inflammation: Rubor (redness), Calor (heat), Tumor (swelling), Dolor (pain).
Prostaglandins: from arachidonic acid; mediate inflammation, ↑ capillary permeability, activate platelets, bind nociceptors.
Active immunity = your own antibodies + memory (incl. immunizations). Passive = pre-formed antibodies, temporary, no memory (mother→fetus, convalescent plasma).
🔗 Exercise (PT-relevant): moderate exercise enhances immune function; strenuous/intense exercise suppresses NK cell & lymphocyte activity — avoid intense exercise during infection (“neck check”).

⛔ Schaumberg’s “NOT on the exam” callouts (don’t waste time here)

Hematopoiesis diagram · NK activating/inhibitory receptor mechanism · full pro-inflammatory cytokine list (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNF-α, IL-4/5/13, IFN-γ, IL-10) · Ig biochemical properties · antibody mechanism of pathogen destruction.

5. ABO Blood Groups (Hematology deck)

Type	Antigen	Antibodies	Role
A	A	anti-B	—
B	B	anti-A	—
AB	A & B	none	Universal recipient
O	none	anti-A & anti-B	Universal donor

6. Standard Supplement — VERIFY against your slides ⚠️

Classic values often paired with the above but not on your decks — only memorize if she listed them elsewhere. - Full WBC differential %: Lymphocytes 20–40%, Monocytes 2–8%, Eosinophils 1–4%, Basophils 0.5–1% - RBC count: Male 4.7–6.1 M/µL · Female 4.2–5.4 M/µL · MCV 80–100 fL - ESR: Male 0–15 · Female 0–20 mm/hr · CRP < 1 mg/dL (ESR & CRP are named on her deck as inflammatory markers, but without numeric ranges)

Quick self-quiz (cover the answers)

Normal Hb, female? → 12–16 g/dL
Normal HCT, male? → 42–52%
Platelet count defining thrombocytopenia? → < 150 k/µL
PT value flagged as high bleeding risk? → > 25 sec
Normal leukocyte reference range? → 5.0–10.0 ×10⁹/L
Leukocytosis threshold? → > 11.0 ×10⁹/L · Leukopenia? → < 4.0 ×10⁹/L
Severe neutropenia? → < 0.5 ×10⁹/L
% of lymphocytes that are T-cells / B-cells / NK? → 70% / 25% / 5%
First and most abundant WBC responder? → Neutrophils (up to 80% of WBC)
Which Ig drives the allergic response? → IgE
Which T-cell does HIV attack, and why does it matter? → CD4⁺ helper (most important adaptive cell)
Universal donor / recipient? → O donor / AB recipient