| Subject | Contents |
| Definition | The complete blood count (CBC) measures the following: The number of red blood cells (RBCs) The number of white blood cells (WBCs) The total amount of hemoglobin in the blood The fraction of the blood composed of red blood cells ( hematocrit ) The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) -- the size of the red blood cells CBC also includes information about the red blood cells that is calculated from the other measurements:MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin)MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration)
The platelet count is also usually included in the CBC.
|
| Alternative Names | Complete blood count |
| How the test is performed | Adult or child: Blood is drawn from a vein ( venipuncture ), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and a tourniquet (an elastic band) or blood pressure cuff is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the tourniquet to distend (fill with blood). A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the tourniquet is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding . Infant or young child: The area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding. |
| How to prepare for the test | Adult:
There is no special preparation needed.
Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experiences, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
Infant test/procedure preparation (birth to 1 year) Toddler test/procedure preparation (1 to 3 years) Preschooler test/procedure preparation (3 to 6 years) Schoolage test/procedure preparation (6 to 12 years) Adolescent test/procedure preparation (12 to 18 years) |
| How the test will feel | When the needle is inserted to draw blood, you may feel moderate pain, though most people feel only a prick or a stinging sensation. Afterward there may be some throbbing or bruising.
|
| Why the test is performed | The CBC is a screening test, used to diagnose and manage numerous diseases. The results can reflect problems with fluid volume (such as dehydration ) or loss of blood. It can show abnormalities in the production, life span, and rate of destruction of blood cells. It can reflect acute or chronic infection, allergies , and problems with clotting. MCV, MCH, and MCHC values reflect the size and hemoglobin concentration of individual cells and are useful in the diagnosis of various types of anemia . |
| Normal Values | RBC (varies with altitude):
male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/mcL female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL WBC : 4,500 to 10,000 cells/mcL Hematocrit (varies with altitude):
male: 40.7 to 50.3 % female: 36.1 to 44.3 % Hemoglobin (varies with altitude):
male: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dL female: 12.1 to 15.1 gm/dL MCV: 80 to 95 femtoliter MCH: 27 to 31 pg/cell MCHC: 32 to 36 gm/dL
Note:
cells/mcL = cells per microliter
gm/dL = grams per deciliter
pg/cell = picograms per cell
|
| What abnormal results mean | High numbers of RBCs may indicate:
Low oxygen tension in the blood
congenital heart diseasecor pulmonalepulmonary fibrosisPolycythemia veraDehydration (such as from severe diarrhea )Renal (kidney) disease with high erythropoietin production
Low numbers of RBCs may indicate:
Blood lossAnemia (various types) Hemorrhage Bone marrow failure (for example, from radiation, toxin, fibrosis, tumor ) Erythropoietin deficiency (secondary to renal disease )Hemolysis (RBC destruction) LeukemiaMultiple myelomaMalnutrition (nutritional deficiencies of iron, folate , vitamin B12 , or vitamin B6 )
Low numbers of WBCs (leukopenia) may indicate:
Bone marrow failure (for example, due to infection, tumor or fibrosis) Presence of cytotoxic substance Autoimmune/collagen-vascular diseases (such as lupus erythematosus ) Disease of the liver or spleen Radiation exposure
High numbers of WBCs (leukocytosis) may indicate:
Infectious diseases Inflammatory disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis or allergy ) Leukemia Severe emotional or physical stress Tissue damage (SUCH AS burns )
Low hematocrit may indicate:
Anemia (various types) Blood loss (hemorrhage) Bone marrow failure (for example, due to radiation, toxin, fibrosis, tumor) Hemolysis (RBC destruction) related to transfusion reaction Leukemia Malnutrition or specific nutritional deficiency Multiple myeloma Rheumatoid arthritis
High hematocrit may indicate:
Dehydration
Burns Diarrhea Polycythemia vera Low oxygen tension (smoking, congenital heart disease, living at high altitudes)
Low hemoglobin values may indicate:
Anemia (various types) Blood loss
The test may be performed under many different conditions and in the assessment of many different diseases.
|
| What the risks are | Excessive bleedingFainting or feeling light-headed Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Multiple punctures to locate veins |
| Special considerations | Red blood cells transport hemoglobin which, in turn, transports oxygen. The amount of oxygen received by tissue depends on the amount and function of RBCs and hemoglobin. The MCV, MCH, and MCHC reflect the size and hemoglobin content of individual red blood cells.
The hematocrit is an expression of the proportion of whole blood that is composed of red blood cells (since the contribution by the WBCs is almost negligible). The hematocrit is a compound measure of RBC number and size.
WBCs are mediators of inflammation and the immune response . There are various types of WBCs that normally appear in the blood: Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes) Band cells (slightly immature neutrophils) T-type lymphocytes (T cells) B-type lymphocytes (B cells) Monocytes Eosinophils Basophils Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others. |
| | |