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Complete blood count (CBC)
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The complete blood count, or CBC, is the test that measures the cells traveling in the blood all together, along with several numbers derived from them. It counts erythrocytes, the red blood cells that carry oxygen; leukocytes, the white blood cells that take part in defense; and platelets, which have to do with clotting. It also includes hemoglobin, hematocrit, and other indexes.
One line coming back outside the range doesn't by itself mean there's a disease. That number is read alongside the other results, alongside the clinical picture, and alongside the ranges the lab works with, the same way an odd entry in an inventory tells you nothing until you look at the rest of the list.
In brief
A complete blood count, or CBC, is a panel that groups together measurements of blood cells and related parameters.
It includes red blood cells, which carry oxygen; white blood cells, which take part in immune defense; and platelets, which help with clotting, along with hemoglobin, hematocrit, and other indices.
A value outside the reference range does not by itself establish a diagnosis; it is interpreted alongside the other results, the clinical context, and the laboratory's reference intervals.
Sources (1)
- MedlinePlusComplete Blood Count (CBC)Published
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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