What is the complete blood count (CBC) Test?
A diagnostic test known as a complete blood count (CBC) is a type of blood test. It aids in the detection of a variety of illnesses and illnesses by healthcare personnel. It also looks for indicators of pharmaceutical side effects in your blood. This test is used by doctors to check for illnesses and alter medications.
A complete blood count (CBC) is a test that counts and measures your blood cells. Your doctor will take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab for analysis. A battery of tests is performed in the lab to assess your blood cells. These tests assist your doctor in keeping track of your health.
A complete blood count (CBC) is a test that measures and studies red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The oxygen-carrying red blood cells transport oxygen all through the body. Your immune system is made up of white blood cells, which aid in the fight against infection in your body. Platelets aid in the clotting of blood.
What is the CBC Test required for?
The CBC test measures a variety of parameters that alerts your doctor about a variety of medical conditions. Some of the symptoms that might need a CBC test include:
- Bleeding and/or bruising
- Fever
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Issues found in the blood pressure and heartbeat
- Joint pain
- Inflammation (swelling)
- Dizziness and/or weakness
Some of the prominent illnesses that the CBC test is used to detect include:
- Anemia
- Various cancer types, such as leukemia and lymphoma among others
- Chemotherapy side effects
- Infections and illnesses that might cause unusually high or low White Cell Blood (WBC) count
- Bone marrow illnesses
- Sickle cell anemia
- Thalassemia
What does a CBC test measure?
Some of the key parameters measured during a CBC test are:
- Hemoglobin:
It is the blood protein that is responsible for oxygen retention.
- Red blood cells (RBCs):
RBCs are the cells that transport oxygen throughout your body. They also assist in the transport of carbon dioxide. You might have anemia or another illness if your RBC count is too low.
- White blood cells (WBCs):
WBCs aid in the battle against pathogens in the body. It might be an indication of swelling/inflammation, infection, a reaction to a medicine, or another health problem. If the WBC count is low, you can be more susceptible to illnesses. A low count might be caused by a medicine, a viral infection, or a bone marrow disorder.
- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV):
The average size of your red blood cells is measured by MCV. Your MCV will be higher if they are larger than normal. If your vitamin B12 or folate levels are low, this might happen. You may have a kind of anemia if your red blood cells are smaller.
- Hematocrit (Hct):
The Hct parameter indicates the percentage of red blood cells in your blood. A low score might indicate a lack of iron, a mineral that aids in the production of red blood cells in the body. A high score might indicate that you're dehydrated or suffering from another ailment.