CBC

Ordering the CBC with Access Medical Laboratories

A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test that can help evaluate your overall health.

Abnormal increases or decreases in cell counts, as revealed in a complete blood count, may indicate that you have an underlying medical condition that calls for further evaluation.

A Complete Blood Count (CBC) includes the analysis of:

• Red blood cells: are the cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
• White blood cells (WBCs): the cells fight infections and other diseases. There are five major types of white blood cells: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes.
• Platelets: stop bleeding by helping the blood to clot. The platelet count is the number of platelets in a given blood volume. If there are too few platelets, uncontrolled bleeding may be a problem.
• Hemoglobin: a protein present in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Hemoglobin is what gives blood its red color.
• Hematocrit: a measurement of how much of the blood is made up of red blood cells. Hematocrit and hemoglobin values can show if anemia or polycythemia is present.
• Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): measures the average size of the red blood cells. MCV can help in diagnosing different types of anemia.
  

*Note

There is a different test called "CBC with differential" that measures the number of each type of white blood cells.

Which Patients is the CBC Test from Access Medical Best Used For?

A complete blood count is a standard blood test that's done for a variety of reasons, including:

• Routine checkup
• To diagnose a medical condition
• To monitor a medical condition
• To monitor medical treatment
  

If any of the levels are abnormal, it doesn't always mean that there is an underlying medical condition that needs treatment. Diet, physical activity level, medicines, not drinking enough water, a menstrual period, and other factors can affect the results. It's always best to use these tests to indicate if there is a need for further evaluation.