Whenever we visit a doctor for our treatment the first test written in our prescription is a blood test and for critical cases, a CBC (that is Complete Blood Count test) test is recommended. But why a full blood test is done. This test is done to check your overall health. It can detect if any type of harmful infection is developing inside our body. This test is very helpful in detecting blood cancer. How it helps in detecting cancer will be discussed later in this article. So, continue reading this article.
The complete blood count (CBC) test helps in diagnosing a few health problems and they are:
- anemia
- autoimmune disorders
- Bone marrow problems
- Dehydration
- Heart disease
- Infection
- cancer
So, we have known the importance of the CBC test.
Let’s dive deep to know what CBC test is and more details about the test these are:
- What Is a CBC Test?
- Why is a CBC test done?
- What may a CBC test result indicate?
- Where to get the best CBC test facility?
- Why Choose HealthcareOnTime?
What Is a CBC Test?
The Complete Blood Count (CBC) test is also known as complete blood count or complete blood analysis. This test measures different components of blood and these are:
- White Blood Cells (WBCs)
- Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
- hemoglobin
- Hematocrit
- Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
- Platelets
This test measures the volume of the blood flowing in our bodies. It also counts the different components present in our body.
White Blood Cells (WBCs)
The white blood cell count (WBC) is the total number of white blood cells found in one cubic centimeter of your blood. It is also measured in millions or billions. The WBC count is used to assess your immune system and its ability to fight off infections. With a CBC test, your doctor will look at your WBC count and differential to understand if you are at risk of infection.
The normal range of WBC count lies between 4,800 and 11,000 (4.8 and 11 × 109/L) for men and 4,700 and 10,000 (4.7 and 10 × 109/L) for women.
Red Blood Cell Count (RBC)
The red blood cell count (RBC) is the total number of red blood cells found in one cubic centimeter of your blood. It is measured in millions or billions. The RBC count is used to assess the health of your heart and lungs. With a CBC test, your doctor will look at your RBC count, along with your hematocrit (HCT) and hemoglobin (HGB) levels to understand if you have anemia or not.
The normal range of RBC count lies between 4.2 and 6.2 million (4.2 and 6.2 × 10^9/L) for men and 4.4 and 5.4 million (4.4 and 5.4 × 10^9/L) for women.
Platelet Count (PLT)
The platelet count (PLT) is the total number of platelets found in one cubic centimeter of your blood. It is measured in millions or billions. The PLT count is used to assess your risk of bruising or bleeding. With a CBC test, your doctor will look at your PLT count and RBC count to understand if you are at risk of excessive bleeding.
The normal range of PLT count lies between 150,000 and 400,000 (150 and 400 × 109/L) for men and 190,000 and 450,000 (190 and 450 × 109/L) for women.
Hemoglobin (HGB)
Hemoglobin (HGB) is the main protein present in red blood cells that helps the red blood cells to carry oxygen from the lungs to other organs of the body. Generally, the higher the hemoglobin level, the healthier the individual is.
The normal range of HGB levels lies between 12 and 16 g/dL for men and 12 and 16 g/dL for women. The higher the hemoglobin level, the more likely it is that you are suffering from anemia.
Hematocrit (HCT)
Hematocrit (HCT) is the percentage of the red blood cells that are present in your blood sample. It provides information on the RBC distribution inside your blood vessels.
A normal CBC test will reveal a normal HCT level. A low count may indicate you don’t have enough iron in your body and this may indicate you have vitamin and mineral deficiency that could lead to anemia. A high count on the other hand may be due to dehydration.
