This PowerPlan has been developed by the hematologists at Advocate for what is relevant to physicians treating patients in America today.

• The hematologists acknowledge that no one looks at peripheral blood smears to help in the diagnostic evaluation of anemia.
• There is no differentiation among macrocytic, normocytic or microcytic anemias.
  • The iron panel and ferritin levels would identify iron-deficiency anemia.
  • LDH would identify hemolytic anemia.
  • Folate and B12 are excluded from the algorithm as it is nearly impossible to have these conditions in America with current dietary fortifications.

Please use your own judgment to determine if additional testing might be needed beyond the suggested algorithm.