A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test that provides information about your blood and overall health. A wide range of diseases, ailments, disorders, and infections can be diagnosed, monitored, and screened using CBC.
What exactly is complete blood count (CBC)?.
Complete blood count indicates the counts of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, the concentration of hemoglobin, and the hematocrit to evaluate a wide range of disorders, including anemia, infection and blood cancers like leukemia and lymphomas. It also looks for indicators of pharmaceutical side effects in your blood.
A sample of your blood is taken and sent to a lab by your provider. A series of tests is performed in the lab to assess your blood cells. These tests assist your doctor in keeping overall track of your health.
When should a CBC test be done?
CBC is considered as one of the first line primary screening tests to diagnose current disease conditions.
You may need a CBC test if you experience symptoms like
- Bleeding or bruising
- Weakness, fatigue, or dizziness
- Fever, nausea, and vomiting
- Joint pain
- Inflammation (swelling and discomfort) anywhere in the body
- Heart rate or blood pressure problems
Why do healthcare professionals order CBC tests?
A CBC test is a vital component of a yearly physical examination. CBCs are also ordered by doctors to detect the following, thereby advising accurate treatment at the early stage of any disease –
- Changes in your blood that could indicate sickness
- Diagnose many different illnesses, diseases, and infections
- Distinguish between conditions, disorders, and diseases
- Examine your general health
- Keep track of different blood disorders
- Track the side effects of some prescribed drugs
What does a CBC test examine?
The red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are all measured and studied in a CBC test. The body's oxygen is carried by red blood cells. Your immune system is regulated by the different white blood cells; they aid in the fight against infections or inflammations in your body. Platelets aid in the clotting process in the body.
Many aspects of your blood are studied in a CBC:
- The total number of red blood cells
- White blood cells are of five varieties. CBC with differential examines the number of each type of white blood cells in your body:
- Neutrophils that protect the body from bacterial infections
- Lymphocytes that protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and fungi
- Monocytes that consume dead or damaged cells
- Eosinophils that kill parasites and contribute to allergic reactions
- Basophils that release histamines during allergic reactions
- Platelet count is the number of platelets in the blood
- Hemoglobin test determines the amount of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells
- The space occupied by red blood cells in your blood is reflected byhematocrit
Apart from these, many other indices are evaluated, including:
- Mean corpuscle (cell) volume (MCV) is a measurement of the average size of the RBCs.
- Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) reflects the average amount of hemoglobin in a person’s RBCs.
- Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is a measurement of the average amount of hemoglobin in the RBCs compared to the average size of the RBCs. In other words, it is the ratio of the MCH to the MCV.
- Red cell distribution width (RDW) reflects the degree of variation in size of the RBCs.
- Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a measurement of the average size of the platelets.
What does a CBC blood test detect?
Your provider can use a CBC blood test to diagnose a variety of conditions, including:
- Anemia- A condition in which the body's red blood cells are insufficient to transport oxygen throughout the body
- Myelodysplastic syndromes- Bone marrow diseases
- Infections or other issues that result in an unusually low or high white blood cell count
- Cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma
- Disorders like agranulocytosis, thalassemias, and sickle cell anemia
- Side effects of chemotherapy and certain pharmaceutical drugs
- Vitamins and minerals deficiencies
What happens during a CBC test? Does it need any preparation?
To prepare for a CBC test, you don't need to do anything. A sterile needle is inserted after your provider cleans your arm. The needle may sting or pinch, but it should not be painful. The needle is frequently inserted into the heel in babies.
Your provider takes a sample of your blood and collects it in a tube. Your provider may require more than one tube of blood.
After extracting blood, the needle is removed and, cotton or bandage is applied to your arm. Your blood is then sent to the lab for processing. Your body's blood supply is immediately restored.
When should one expect the test results?
Within a few hours, the results are usually available. Your healthcare professional would discuss the results and next steps. If your blood cell counts are abnormally high, your doctor may prescribe additional tests.
Typical ranges of a complete count are-
Normal RBC count
Men – 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per microlitre (cells/mcL)
Women – 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL
Normal range of hemoglobin
13.0 – 17.0 g/dL in males (15+), 11.5-15.5 g/dL in females (15+)
Normal hematocrit range
40 to 55 percent of men, 36-48 percent female
Adult platelet count range
150,000 – 400,000/mL
Normal range of white blood cells (WBC)
Adult: 5,000-10,000/mL
Final note
CBC test price may vary from lab to lab. You can browse CBC test near me and compare the price. CBC blood tests are an important part of sustaining general health. A CBC can diagnose diseases early, sometimes even before symptoms appear, allowing treatment to begin as soon as feasible.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
