A complete blood count test, also known as a CBC test, is one of the most commonly ordered diagnostic blood tests. A CBC test is actually a panel of tests that check for various ailments, diseases, and disorders. A CBC test is frequently ordered to establish a baseline level of health for patients as well as to diagnose specific problems a patient may be seeking treatment for based on the CBC test results.
How is a CBC Test Done?
The administration of a CBC Test is fairly straight forward and can be done is most doctor’s offices. A physician or nurse will swab the area with alcohol and insert a small syring. A few milliliters of blood will be drawn into a vacum sealed vial where it is sealed and labeled. After this collection the sample will usually be shipped of to a labratory for the testing to be conducted. The results will the be forwarded to your physician who will then go over your CBC test with you and explain the results.
What does a CBC test for?
What a CBC test primarily looks at are the various components that make up your circular system. They are:
- White Blood Cell Count (WBC) – This is a count of the number of White Blood Cells in your blood.
- White Blood Cell differential – This looks at the types of white blood cells present in your system. Each one has it’s own fucntion and purpose for keeping your system free from desiese and infection. They are neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.
- RBC, or Red Blood Cell count, is that number of red blood cells in your system.
- Hemoglobin is the measure of how much oxygen is being carried by your blood.
- Hematocrit measures how much oxygen is present in a given unit of blood.
- The platelet count is the number of platelets in a given volume of blood. Both increases and decreases can point to abnormal conditions of excess bleeding or clotting. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a machine-calculated measurement of the average size of your platelets. New platelets are larger, and an increased MPV occurs when increased numbers of platelets are being produced. MPV gives your doctor information about platelet production in your bone marrow.
- Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
- Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
- Red cell distribution width (RDW)
- Platelet count
When is a CBC Test ordered?
A CBC test is a useful tool in a physicians arsenal. Given that it is one of the most commonly ordered blod tests, doctors use this test to establish a baseline measurement of a patients health and well being as part of a routine check up. It can also be ordered based on a patients current symptoms as a method of evaluation.