transitive verb. 1  To keep up or carry on; continue: maintain good relations. 2  To keep in an existing state; preserve or retain: maintain one's composure. 3  To keep in a condition of good repair or efficiency: maintain two cars.
Anemia is usually classified based on the size of RBCs, as measured by the mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Anemia can be microcytic (MCV typically less than 80 Î¼m3 [80 fL]), normocytic (80 to 100 Î¼m3 [80 to 100 fL]), or macrocytic (greater than 100 Î¼m3 [100 fL]).
Anemia is considered to be present if the Hb or the hematocrit (Hct) is below the lower limit of 2 standard deviations (-2SD) or the 95% confidence interval for the normal population. This definition of anemia results in 2.5% of normal individuals being classified as anemic.emoglobin concentration (Hb) is usually reported as grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of blood (g/dL). Hb is commonly measured by the cyanhemoglobin (hemoglobin cyanide) method.