Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Blood
The Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most frequently ordered blood tests. It is essential to know that blood consists of two major parts: plasma and cellular elements. The plasma is the part of the blood that is liquid, which allows the blood to flow smoothly. The other part of the blood consists of blood cells.
The blood cells are white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), and platelets. Each of these types of cells carries out specific and vital functions.
The complete blood count test measures the quantity of all the different types of cells in the blood. It also provides some valuable information on other parameters related to each type of blood cell.
How does a complete blood count (CBC) test is made? Blood is collected by inserting a needle into a vein and allowing it to flow into a tube. Later the blood sample gets to the laboratory, and the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets get counted. The CBC is used to test for, diagnose, and monitor many different conditions.
The CBC test gets a lot of information from your blood sample:
- White blood cells (WBCs) their number and their types. Your body has five kinds of white blood cells. All play a role in fighting infections. High numbers of WBCs, or a specific type of WBC, may mean you have an infection or inflammation somewhere in your body. Low numbers of WBCs may mean you are at risk for infections.
- Numbers of the red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs carry oxygen throughout the body and remove excess carbon dioxide. Too few RBCs may be a sign of anemia or other diseases. In rare cases, too many may cause problems with blood flow.
- The size of your red blood cells varies. This test is known as the red cell distribution width (RDW). For instance, you may have more significant differences in red blood cell size if you have anemia.
- Hematocrit. The portion of red blood cells in a certain amount of whole blood. A low hematocrit may be a sign of too much bleeding. Or it might mean that you have iron deficiency or other disorders. A higher than average hematocrit occurs when one is dehydrated or by some other conditions.
- Hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells. It carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of the body. Abnormalities can be a sign of problems ranging from anemia to lung disease.
- Red blood cells average size. This test is known as the mean corpuscular volume (MCV). MCV goes up when your red blood cells are bigger than expected. It happens if you have anemia caused by low vitamin B12 or folate levels. If your red blood cells are smaller, this can mean other types of anemia, such as iron deficiency anemia.
- A platelet count. Platelets are cell fragments that play a role in blood clotting. Too few platelets may mean you have a higher risk of bleeding. Too many may tell several possible conditions.
- Mean corpuscular hemoglobin. This test measures how much hemoglobin your red blood cells have.
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Biomarkers included in this panel:
Hemoglobin (Hb) is the iron-containing oxygen transportation protein in red blood cells. It's rate of binding oxygen depends on the number oxygen molecules already bound.
Learn moreA hematocrit test (Hct) is a simple blood test that measures the percentage of red blood cells in your blood. Red blood cells are important because they carry oxygen throughout your body. Test results showing low or high hematocrit levels may be sign
Learn moreA hematocrit test (Hct) is a simple blood test that measures the percentage of red blood cells in your blood. Red blood cells are important because they carry oxygen throughout your body. Test results showing low or high hematocrit levels may be sign
Learn moreWhat is hemoglobin? Hemoglobin is the main component of red blood cells. Hemoglobin (abbreviation: Hb) is a red substance made of iron and protein. What's the function of hemoglobin? - In the blood, it carries oxygen to the cells in the
Learn moreWhat is hemoglobin? Hemoglobin is the main component of red blood cells. Hemoglobin (abbreviation: Hb) is a red substance made of iron and protein. What's the function of hemoglobin? - In the blood, it carries oxygen to the cells in the
Learn moreMean cell volume indicates the average volume of red blood cells in the body. It is often measured as a part of the red blood cell indices in a comprehensive blood count test. The results of the red blood cell indices will tell a healthcare professio
Learn moreMean corpuscular (or cell) hemoglobin (abbreviated as MCH) is an estimate of the amount of hemoglobin in an average red blood cell. Hemoglobin is a substance in the blood that carries oxygen to the cells in the body from the lungs.
Learn moreMCHC stands for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. MCHC is part of the red cell indices, together with MCH and MCV. Those parameters reflect the size and hemoglobin content of red cells. They have traditionally been used to aid in t
Learn moreMean corpuscular volume indicates the average volume of red blood cells in the body. It is often measured as a part of the red blood cell indices in a comprehensive blood count test. The results of the red blood cell indices will tell a healthcare pr
Learn moreMean platelet volume (MPV) is a calculation that indicates the average size of platelets in the blood. This measurement is typically done during a comprehensive blood count. An abnormal MPV is not, in it of itself, an indication of disease or disorde
Learn moreOther names: Platelets, Thrombocyte Count What are platelets? Platelets (aka thrombocytes) are small, colorless cell fragments in our blood that form clots and stop or prevent bleeding. Where are platelets made? Platelets are m
Learn moreThis marker can give you additional information about your platelets and the cause of a high or low platelet count. Larger platelets are usually younger platelets that have been released earlier than normal from the bone marrow, while smaller platele
Learn morePlatelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR) is defined as the percentage of platelets that exceed the normal value of platelet volume of 12 fL in the total platelet count. Platelet size has been shown to reflect platelet activity; therefore MPV (=Mean Plate
Learn moreRed blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. They also carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs so it can be exhaled. Red blood cells (RBC) are made in the bone marrow and contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen t
Learn moreThe RDW value tells you whether enough of your red blood cells are of normal size and shape. Why is this important? The red blood cells are usually flat and lenticular (disc-shaped) with a diameter of around 7.5 µm (micrometer). Blood
Learn moreRed Cell Distribution Width-Standard Deviation (RDW-SD) is a blood test parameter that measures the variability in the size of your red blood cells. It's one of the ways scientists assess the volume and size of red blood cells within a sample. A
Learn moreRed blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. They also carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs so it can be exhaled. Red blood cells (RBC) are made in the bone marrow and contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen t
Learn moreWhite blood cells, often called leukocytes, are three types of cells found in the blood, along with red blood cells and platelets. Specifically, the white blood cell family contains five members: monocytes, lymphocytes, basophils, neutrophils, and eo
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