Scribd
Upload
18 views4 pages

CBC Test - Purpose, What It Measures, and Normal Results

Uploaded by

pavanpv1426
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
18 views4 pages

CBC Test - Purpose, What It Measures, and Normal Results

Uploaded by

pavanpv1426
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

8/16/22, 4:03 PM CBC Test: Purpose, What It Measures, and Normal Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC)


Test
 Medically Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS on March 04, 2022

What Is a Complete Blood Count?


A complete blood count (CBC) is a test that counts the cells that make up
your blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Your doctor may
order a CBC as part of a routine checkup or to:

Check for anemia, a condition that causes you to have fewer red blood
cells than usual

Find out if you have another health issue or to explain symptoms


like weakness, fever, bruising, or feeling tired

Keep an eye on a blood condition


See how medications, medical conditions, or treatments
like chemotherapy are affecting your blood

How Is a CBC Done?

If the CBC is the only blood test you’re having, you can eat and drink like you
usually would.

Your part of the test is simple and takes just a few minutes. A nurse or lab tech
will take a sample of blood by putting a needle into a vein in your arm.
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/complete-blood-count 1/4
8/16/22, 4:03 PM CBC Test: Purpose, What It Measures, and Normal Results

Afterward, you can leave and get back to your routine. They’ll send the blood to
a lab for review.

What Does a CBC Measure?

The test can tell your doctor a lot about your overall health. It measures:

White blood cells (WBCs). These help your body fight germs. If you have
too many of them, it could be a sign of inflammation, infection, a medical
reaction, or another health condition. If it’s low, you could be at a higher
risk for infection. A medication, a viral infection, or a bone marrow disease
could also cause a low count.

Red blood cells (RBC). These deliver oxygen throughout your body. They
also help carry carbon dioxide. If your RBC count is too low, you may
have anemia or another condition.

Hemoglobin (Hb or Hgb). This is the protein in your blood that holds
oxygen.

Hematocrit (Hct). This test tells how much of your blood is made up of red
blood cells. A low score may be a sign that you don’t have enough iron, the
mineral that helps your body make red blood cells. A high score could
mean you’re dehydrated or have another condition.
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV). This is the average size of your red
blood cells. If they’re bigger than usual, your MCV will be higher. That could
happen if you have low vitamin B12 or folate levels. If your red blood cells
are smaller, you could have a type of anemia.
Platelets. These help your blood clot.

SUGGESTED Don't Scratch! What to What to Do When Your


Do When Your Eczema Itches

CBC Results

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/complete-blood-count 2/4
8/16/22, 4:03 PM CBC Test: Purpose, What It Measures, and Normal Results

When you get your report, you’ll see two columns: a “reference range” and your
results. If your results are inside the reference range, they’re considered normal.
If your results are higher or lower than the reference range, they’re abnormal.
Mild anemia is one of the most common reasons your results might be off.

Each lab has different ways of studying your blood. So the reference range will
depend on the lab that handles your blood tests. It’s also based on things that
can affect your blood like your age, your sex, and how high above sea level you
live.

In general, the reference ranges are:

White blood cells: 4,500 to 11,000 cells per microliter (cells/mcL)


Red blood cells: 4.5 million to 5.9 million cells/mcL for men; 4.1 million to
5.1 million cells/mcL for women

Hemoglobin: 14 to 17.5 grams per deciliter (gm/dL) for men; 12.3 to 15.3
gm/dL for women

Hematocrit: 41.5% to 50.4% for men; 35.9% to 44.6% for women


Mean corpuscular volume: 80 to 96
Platelets: 150,000 to 450,000 platelets/mcL

What Else Might My CBC Tell Me?


Your doctor might order more results to learn whether you have an illness or
blood condition, including:

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). This test tells how much


hemoglobin is in your typical red blood cell.
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). This measures
the concentration of hemoglobin in a certain amount of blood.
Red cell distribution width (RDW). This shows how much your red blood
cells vary in size.
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/complete-blood-count 3/4
8/16/22, 4:03 PM CBC Test: Purpose, What It Measures, and Normal Results

Reticulocyte count. This test measures the number of new red blood
cells in your body.

Mean platelet volume (MPV). This result gives the average size of the
platelets in your blood.

Platelet distribution width (PDW). This shows how much your platelets
vary in size.
White blood cell differential. There are five types of white blood cells:
basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils. This
test shows how many of each kind you have.

Show Sources
SOURCES:

Mayo Clinic: “Complete Blood Count (CBC).”

American Association for Clinical Chemistry: Lab Tests Online “Complete Blood Count (CBC)

University of Rochester Medical Center: “Complete Blood Count.”

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: “What Do Blood Tests Show?” “What Is Anemia?”

UCLA Health: “Complete Blood Count.”

© 2022 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. View privacy policy and trust info 

RELATED

Monkeypox: What to Know


https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/complete-blood-count 4/4

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy