COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)

  What is CBC?

  A complete blood count (CBC) test is a group of tests that provides information about blood cells like Red Blood Cells (RBC), White Blood Cells (WBC) and platelets. It is routinely performed to provide an overview of a patient's general health status.

What does CBC Measure?

                 Blood is composed of blood cells suspended in blood plasma (yellowish-colored liquid). The blood cells include red blood cells (also called RBCs or erythrocytes), white blood cells (also called WBCs or leukocytes), and platelets (also called thrombocytes).

Red blood cells (RBCs) are the most abundant blood cells. RBCs contain hemoglobin which helps in the transportation of oxygen to the tissues. RBC count is the measurement of the number of RBCs in a given volume of blood.  

Packed Cell Volume (PCV) or Hematocrit (Hct) is the measurement of the blood volume occupied by RBCs. It is expressed in percentage.

White blood cells (WBCs) are key components of the immune system and thus protect the body from various infections and cancers. Total Leucocyte count (TLC) is the measurement of the total number of leukocytes (WBCs) in a given volume of blood.There are five types of WBCs: Neutrophils, Basophils, Eosinophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes

Differential Leucocyte Count (DLC) determines the percentage of different types of WBCs.

Platelet count - Platelets (also called thrombocytes) are disc-shaped cell fragments without a nucleus that help in blood clotting. Platelet count is the measurement of the number of platelets in a given volume of blood.

Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) is a measurement of the average size of platelets.

PDW or platelet distribution width refers to the variation of platelet size distribution.

Hemoglobin (Hb) -  Hemoglobin (Hb) is a protein found in red blood cells (RBCs) that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues, exchanges the oxygen for carbon dioxide, and then carries the carbon dioxide back to the lungs where it is exchanged for oxygen.

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) is the average volume of a red blood cell.

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) is the average amount of hemoglobin in the average red blood cell.

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) is the average concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of red cells.

Red Cell Distribution Width Coefficient of variation (RDW CV)is a measurement of the variability of the red blood distribution curve and their mean size. 

Interpreting CBC results

Hemoglobin: 

     Males: 13.2 - 16.2 gm/dL 

     Females: 12.0 - 15.2 gm/dL

Red Blood Cell Count (RBC)

     Males: 4.3  - 6.2  million/μL

    Females: 3.8  - 5.5 million/μL

    Infant/Child: 3.8 - 5.5 million/μL

White Blood Cell Count (WBC)

Differential Leucocyte Count

Neutrophils - 35-80%

Lymphocytes - 20-50%

 Monocytes - 2-12%

Eosinophils - 0-7%

Basophils - 0-2%

Platelet count (Plt) - 1.5 - 4.5 lacs/μL

Hematocrit (Hct)

Males: 40-52%

Females: 37-46%

Child: 31-43%

Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) - 35-47 fL

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

      Males: 82-102 fL

      Females: 78-101 fL

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) - 27-34 pg

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) - 31-35 gm/dL

Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) - 6.0-9.5 fL

Meaning of Abnormal CBC Test Results

TEST	Increased levels	Decreased levels
Hemoglobin	Polycythemia	Anemia
RBC	sleep apnea, pulmonary fibrosis	vitamin B6, B12 or folate deficiency internal bleeding, kidney disease or malnutrition
WBC	Infections, Inflammatory disorders, Leukemia, Myeloproliferative disorders	Aplastic anemia, Bone marrow disorders, Autoimmune conditions
Neutrophil count	(Neutrophilia)Acute bacterial infections, Inflammation, Burns	(Neutropenia)Aplastic anemia, Autoimmune disorders, Drug reactions or Chemotherapy
Lymphocyte count	(Lymphocytosis) Acute viral infections, Tuberculosis, Lymphocytic leukemia	(Lymphopenia) Bone marrow damage, Aplastic anemia, Autoimmune disorders
Monocyte count	(Monocytosis) Chronic infections like tuberculosis, Bacterial endocarditis, Collagen vascular disorders, Inflammatory bowel diseases	Bone marrow damage
Eosinophil count	(Eosinophilia) Asthma, Allergies, Drug reactions, Parasitic infections	Rare and medically insignificant
Basophil count	(Basophilia) Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)	Medically insignificant
Platelet count	(Thrombocytosis) -Blood Loss, Chronic Infection or Inflammatory Disease, Removal of the spleen	(Thrombocytopenia) - Viral infections like dengue fever, bleeding or platelet disorders
Hematocrit (Hct)	dehydration or polycythemia.	anemia, overhydration, kidney failure, or chronic inflammatory conditions.
Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)	iron, folate, or vitamin B-12 deficiency	not a cause for concern
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)	macrocytic anemia	microcytic anemia
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)	liver diseases, an overactive thyroid gland, drinking alcohol regularly, deficiency of vit b12 or folic acid.	Malnutrition, anemia
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC	Severe burns, Liver disease, Hyperthyroidism, Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Sickle cell disease	Iron deficiency (with or without anemia), Lead poisoning, Thalassemias
Mean Platelet Volume (MPV)	Thrombocytopenia, Heart disease, Diabetes	marrow hypoplasia

 Tests Included

    Total Leucocyte Count

       Hemoglobin

       RDW CV

       RDW SD

      Red Blood Cell Count

      Mean Corpuscular Volume

     Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin

    Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration

Mean Platelet Volume

PDW

Absolute Leukocyte Count(includes 5 tests)

•       Absolute Eosinophil Count

•       Absolute Neutrophil Count

•       Absolute Basophil Count

•        Absolute Lymphocyte Count

•        Absolute Monocyte Count

• Platelet Count

• Differential leucocyte Count(includes 5 tests)

•       Differential Neutrophil Count

•     Differential Lymphocyte Count

•     Differential Monocyte Count

•     Differential Eosinophil Count

•     Differential Basophil Count

• Packed Cell Volume