Anaemia Classifier
Classify anaemia by severity and MCV type, with likely causes and a treatment recommendation.
This tool classifies anaemia from a haemoglobin and MCV value — telling you not just how severe it is, but the likely type and a first-line treatment direction. See How Calculator Tools Work for the shared layout.
Inputs
- Haemoglobin (Hb) in g/dL
- MCV in fL
- MCH in pg (optional)
- Sex (male/female)
- Pregnant (yes/no)
Anaemia threshold
The Hb threshold below which anaemia is flagged depends on the patient:
| Patient | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Pregnant | Hb < 11 g/dL |
| Male, not pregnant | Hb < 13 g/dL |
| Female, not pregnant | Hb < 12 g/dL |
Severity
| Hb (g/dL) | Severity |
|---|---|
| 10–12/13 | Mild |
| 7–9.9 | Moderate |
| 6–6.9 | Severe |
| < 6 | Critical — refer to hospital immediately, transfusion may be required |
Type, by MCV
| MCV (fL) | Type | Likely causes |
|---|---|---|
| < 80 | Microcytic | Iron deficiency (most common), thalassaemia trait, chronic disease, sideroblastic anaemia |
| 80–100 | Normocytic | Acute blood loss, chronic disease, haemolysis, mixed deficiency, renal disease |
| > 100 | Macrocytic | B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, liver disease, hypothyroidism, drug-induced (methotrexate, AZT) |
The treatment recommendation follows the type — for example, microcytic anaemia recommends ferrous sulphate 200mg TDS for 3 months with dietary advice, taken with vitamin C; macrocytic points toward folic acid or B12 replacement depending on which is suspected. Any Hb below 7 g/dL adds a recommendation to refer for further evaluation and possible transfusion, regardless of type.
Reference
WHO. Haemoglobin concentrations for the diagnosis of anaemia. 2011.