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    Complete Blood Count: at A Glance

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    The document provides information about a Complete Blood Count (CBC) test, including what it tests, how it is used, and what the results can mean. A CBC counts and provides information about red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. It is a broad screening test used to check for conditions like anemia and infection. Abnormal increases or decreases in cell counts and characteristics can indicate different health issues depending on the component affected.

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    Complete Blood Count: at A Glance

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    The document provides information about a Complete Blood Count (CBC) test, including what it tests, how it is used, and what the results can mean. A CBC counts and provides information about red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. It is a broad screening test used to check for conditions like anemia and infection. Abnormal increases or decreases in cell counts and characteristics can indicate different health issues depending on the component affected.

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    The document provides information about a Complete Blood Count (CBC) test, including what it tests, how it is used, and what the results can mean. A CBC counts and provides information about red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. It is a broad screening test used to check for conditions like anemia and infection. Abnormal increases or decreases in cell counts and characteristics can indicate different health issues depending on the component affected.

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    337 views6 pages

    Complete Blood Count: at A Glance

    Uploaded by

    csy123
    The document provides information about a Complete Blood Count (CBC) test, including what it tests, how it is used, and what the results can mean. A CBC counts and provides information about red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. It is a broad screening test used to check for conditions like anemia and infection. Abnormal increases or decreases in cell counts and characteristics can indicate different health issues depending on the component affected.

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    of 6

    Wellness Library

    Home › Wellness Library › HealthSheets › Complete Blood Count

    Complete Blood Count


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    At a Glance
    Also known as

    CBC, Hemogram, CBC with differential

    Related tests

    Blood smear, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Red blood cell (RBC) count, White blood cell (WBC)
    count, White blood cell differential count, Platelet count

    Why get tested?

    To determine general health status and to screen for and monitor a variety of disorders, such as
    anemia

    When to get tested?

    As part of a routine medical exam or as determined by your doctor

    Sample required

    A blood sample drawn from a vein in the arm or a fingerstick or heelstick (newborns)

    Test Sample
    What is being tested?

    The Complete Blood Count (CBC) test is an automated count of the cells in the blood. A
    standard CBC includes the following:

     number of white blood cells (WBC)


     number of red blood cells (RBC)
     hemoglobin content (Hgb)
     hematocrit (Hct)
     mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
     mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
     mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
     platelet count and volume

    The results of a CBC can provide information about not only the number of cell types but also
    can give an indication of the size, shape, and some of the physical characteristics of the cells. In
    addition, a WBC differential (identifies different types of WBCs) may be ordered and can be
    done on the same instrument or performed manually.

    Significant abnormalities in one or more of the cell populations may require visual confirmation
    by observing a blood smear under a microscope. In this test, a drop of blood is placed on a glass
    slide, smeared into a thin layer, allowed to dry, and then dyed with a special stain. A Clinical
    Laboratory Scientist can then evaluate the physical characteristics of the red and white blood
    cells present. Any additional information is noted and reported to the doctor.

    Blood consists of cells suspended in a liquid called plasma. These cells - the RBCs, WBCs, and
    platelets - are produced and mature primarily in the bone marrow. Under normal circumstances,
    they are released into the bloodstream as needed.

    White Blood Cells (WBCs)


    There are five different types of WBCs that the body uses to maintain a healthy state and to fight
    infections or other causes of injury. They are neutrophils, lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils,
    and monocytes. They are present in the blood at relatively stable percentages. These numbers
    may temporarily shift higher or lower depending on what is going on in the body. For instance,
    an infection can stimulate a higher concentration of neutrophils (a "shift to the left") to fight off
    bacterial infection. With allergies, there may be an increased number of eosinophils that release
    certain chemicals (anti-histamines) that minimize the allergic effect. Lymphocytes may be
    stimulated to produce immunoglobulins (antibodies). And in certain disease states, such as
    leukemia, abnormal and immature white cells (blasts) rapidly multiply, increasing the WBC
    count.

    Red Blood Cells (RBCs)


    RBCs are pale red in color and shaped like a donut with a thinner section in the middle instead of
    a hole. They have hemoglobin inside them, a protein that transports oxygen throughout the body.
    The CBC determines whether there are sufficient RBCs present and whether the population of
    RBCs appears to be normal. RBCs are normally all the same size and shape; however, variations
    can occur with vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies, iron deficiency, and with a variety of other
    conditions. If there are insufficient normal RBCs present, the patient is said to have anemia and
    may have symptoms such as fatigue and weakness. Much less frequently, there may be too many
    RBCs in the blood (erythrocytosis or polycythemia). In extreme cases, this can interfere with the
    flow of blood through the veins and arteries.

    Platelets
    Platelets are special cell fragments that play an important role in blood clotting. If a patient does
    not have enough platelets, he will be at an increased risk of excessive bleeding and bruising. The
    CBC measures the number and size of platelets present. With some conditions and in some
    people, there may be giant platelets or platelet clumps that are difficult for the hematology
    instrument to accurately measure. In this case, a blood smear test may be necessary.

    How is the sample collected for testing?

    The CBC is performed on a blood sample taken by a needle placed in a vein in the arm or by a
    fingerstick (for children and adults) or heelstick (for infants).

    Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample?

    No test preparation is needed.

    The Test
    How is it used?

    The CBC is used as a broad screening test to check for such disorders as anemia, infection, and
    many other diseases. It is actually a panel of tests that examines different parts of the blood and
    includes the following:

     White blood cell (WBC) count is a count of the actual number of white blood cells per
    volume of blood. Both increases and decreases can be significant.
     White blood cell differential looks at the types of white blood cells present. There are five
    different types of white blood cells, each with its own function in protecting us from
    infection. The differential classifies a person's white blood cells into each type:
    neutrophils (also known as segs, PMNs, grans), lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils,
    and basophils.
     Red blood cell (RBC) count is a count of the actual number of red blood cells per volume
    of blood. Both increases and decreases can point to abnormal conditions.
     Hemoglobin measures the amount of oxygen-carrying protein in the blood.
     Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in a given volume of whole blood.
     The platelet count is the number of platelets in a given volume of blood. Both increases
    and decreases can point to abnormal conditions of excess bleeding or clotting. Mean
    platelet volume (MPV) is a machine-calculated measurement of the average size of your
    platelets. New platelets are larger, and an increased MPV occurs when increased numbers
    of platelets are being produced. MPV gives your doctor information about platelet
    production in your bone marrow.
     Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a measurement of the average size of your RBCs.
    The MCV is elevated when your RBCs are larger than normal (macrocytic), for example
    in anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. When the MCV is decreased, your RBCs
    are smaller than normal (microcytic) as is seen in iron deficiency anemia or thalassemias.
     Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is a calculation of the average amount of oxygen-
    carrying hemoglobin inside a red blood cell. Macrocytic RBCs are large so tend to have a
    higher MCH, while microcytic red cells would have a lower value.
     Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is a calculation of the average
    concentration of hemoglobin inside a red cell. Decreased MCHC values (hypochromia)
    are seen in conditions where the hemoglobin is abnormally diluted inside the red cells,
    such as in iron deficiency anemia and in thalassemia. Increased MCHC values
    (hyperchromia) are seen in conditions where the hemoglobin is abnormally concentrated
    inside the red cells, such as in burn patients and hereditary spherocytosis, a relatively rare
    congenital disorder.
     Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a calculation of the variation in the size of your
    RBCs. In some anemias, such as pernicious anemia, the amount of variation
    (anisocytosis) in RBC size (along with variation in shape – poikilocytosis) causes an
    increase in the RDW.

    When is it ordered?

    The CBC is a very common test. Many patients will have baseline CBC tests to help determine
    their general health status. If they are healthy and they have cell populations that are within
    normal limits, then they may not require another CBC until their health status changes or until
    their doctor feels that it is necessary.

    If a patient is having symptoms such as fatigue or weakness or has an infection, inflammation,


    bruising, or bleeding, then the doctor may order a CBC to help diagnose the cause. Significant
    increases in WBCs may help confirm that an infection is present and suggest the need for further
    testing to identify its cause. Decreases in the number of RBCs (anemia) can be further evaluated
    by changes in size or shape of the RBCs to help determine if the cause might be decreased
    production, increased loss, or increased destruction of RBCs. A platelet count that is low or
    extremely high may confirm the cause of excessive bleeding or clotting and can also be
    associated with diseases of the bone marrow such as leukemia.

    What does the test result mean?

    The following table explains what increases or decreases in each of the components of the CBC
    may mean.

    Test Name Increased/Decreased


    WBC White Blood Cell May be increased with infections, inflammation, cancer,
    leukemia; decreased with some medications (such as
    methotrexate),some autoimmune conditions, some
    severeinfections, bone marrow failure, and congenital
    marrow aplasia (marrow doesn't develop normally
    % Neutrophil/Band/Seg This is a dynamic population that varies somewhat from
    Neutrophil day to day depending on what is going on in the body. 
    Significant increases in particular types are associated with
    different temporary/acute and/or chronic conditions.  An
    example of this is the increased number of lymphocytes
    seen with lymphocytic leukemia.
    % Lymphs Lymphocyte
    % Mono Monocyte
    % Eos Eosinophil
    %Baso Basophil
    Neutrophil Neutrophil/Band/Seg
    Lymphs Lymphocyte
    Mono Monocyte
    Eos Eosinophil
    Baso Basophil
         
    RBC Red Blood Cell Decreased with anemia; increased when too many made and
    with fluid loss due to diarrhea, dehydration, burns
    Hgb Hemoglobin Mirrors RBC results
    Hct Hematocrit Mirrors RBC results
    MCV Mean Corpuscular Increased with B12 and Folate deficiency; decreased with
    Volume iron deficiency and thalassemia
    MCH Mean Corpuscular Mirrors MCV results
    Hemoglobin
    MCHC Mean Corpuscular May be decreased when MCV is decreased; increases
    Hemoglobin limited to amount of Hgb that will fit inside a RBC
    Concentration
    RDW RBC Distribution Width Increased RDW indicates mixed population of RBCs;
    immature RBCs tend to be larger
         
    Platelet Platelet Decreased or increased with conditions that affect platelet
    production; decreased when greater numbers used, as with
    bleeding; decreased with some inherited disorders (such as
    Wiskott-Aldrich, Bernard-Soulier), withSystemic lupus
    erythematosus, pernicious anemia, hypersplenism (spleen
    takes too many out of circulation), leukemia, and
    chemotherapy 
    MPV Mean Platelet Volume Vary with platelet production; younger platelets are larger
    than older ones

    Is there anything else I should know?

    While no specific pre-testing restrictions are necessary, it is best to avoid a fatty meal prior to
    having your blood drawn.
    Normal CBC values for babies and children may be different from adults and need to be
    considered when interpreting data.

    Common Questions
    1. What can a patient do about his CBC?

    Patients who have a keen interest in their own health care frequently want to know what
    they can do to change their WBCs, RBCs, and platelets. Unlike "good" and "bad"
    cholesterol, cell populations are not generally affected by lifestyle changes unless the
    patient has an underlying deficiency (such as vitamin B12 or folate deficiency or iron
    deficiency). There is no way that a patient can directly raise the number of his WBCs or
    change the size or shape of his RBCs. Addressing any underlying diseases or conditions
    and following a healthy lifestyle will help optimize your body’s cell production and your
    body will take care of the rest.

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