Complete Blood Count (CBC)

A Complete Blood Count (CBC) test is a common blood test that provides important information about the composition and health of your blood. It evaluates several components of blood, including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. A CBC test is often ordered as part of a routine health checkup, to diagnose various medical conditions, or to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

Here’s a breakdown of what a CBC test typically includes:

1. Red Blood Cell Count (RBC): This measures the number of red blood cells in a given volume of blood. Abnormal RBC counts can indicate conditions such as anemia (low RBC count) or polycythemia (high RBC count).
2. Hemoglobin (Hb): Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. The hemoglobin level indicates how well your blood can carry oxygen to the body’s tissues.
3. Hematocrit (Hct): Hematocrit is the proportion of red blood cells to the total volume of blood. It is expressed as a percentage. Changes in hematocrit can reflect changes in the volume or viscosity of blood.
4. Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): This measures the average volume of red blood cells. It helps classify anemias into different types (e.g., microcytic, normocytic, or macrocytic) based on the size of the red blood cells.
5. Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH): MCH measures the average amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells. It helps assess the amount of hemoglobin in each red blood cell.
6. Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC): This measures the concentration of hemoglobin in red blood cells. It indicates how much hemoglobin is present relative to the size of the cell.
7. Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW): RDW measures the variation in the size of red blood cells. It can help diagnose different types of anemias.
8. White Blood Cell Count (WBC): This measures the total number of white blood cells in a given volume of blood. Changes in WBC count can indicate infections, inflammatory conditions, or bone marrow disorders.
9. Differential White Blood Cell Count (WBC Differential): This measures the percentage of different types of white blood cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils) in the blood. It helps diagnose and monitor various infections and immune system disorders.
10. Platelet Count: Platelets are blood cells involved in clotting. This test measures the number of platelets in the blood. Abnormal platelet counts can indicate bleeding disorders or bone marrow disorders.

The results of a CBC test are typically interpreted by a healthcare provider in the context of the patient’s medical history, symptoms, and other diagnostic tests. Abnormalities in CBC results may require further investigation to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.