When you go to see a doctor, he will give you a blood test. When you go to the lab with that paper, you will see that it says 'FBC' or 'CBC'. Some people also call this 'Full Blood Count'. What exactly is this CBC test? What does it check for? Is this something to be afraid of? Okay, let's talk about this very simply today, in a way that you can understand.
Why would a doctor recommend a CBC test?
A CBC (Complete Blood Count) is a very common and very important blood test. Simply put, it counts the main types of cells in your blood. These are red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. There are several reasons why a doctor might order this test.
- As part of a routine health checkup: Check your overall health.
- Check for anemia: This will help you determine if anemia is the cause of things like fatigue and paleness.
- If you suspect another medical condition: Find a cause for your unexplained body aches, fever, and bruises.
- Monitor a pre-existing condition: If you have a blood-related condition, check how it is progressing.
- Check the effects of medications: Find out how some of the medications you take, especially those used for cancer treatment (chemotherapy), affect your blood.
Imagine, if our body is like a car, the CBC test is like checking the basic things of that car like engine oil and water level. It gives us a clue about many things going on inside the body.
How is this CBC test done?
This is very simple and can be done in a few minutes. You don't have to work hard.
A nurse or lab tech will use a small needle to take a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. That's it. You can then go home. They will send the blood sample to the lab for testing.
In most cases, if you are only doing the CBC test, you do not need to fast. You can eat and drink normally. However, if your doctor has ordered another test, such as a blood sugar test (FBS), along with the CBC, remember to follow his or her instructions exactly .
What do these things in the CBC Report say?
Okay, now let's see what the different parts of this test say. This may sound a bit technical, but it's actually quite simple. I've put it in the table below for you to understand.
| What is being tested (Component) | What does it mean? (What it Means) |
|---|---|
| White Blood Cells (WBCs) | These are like our body's defense system. These cells fight germs. If there are too many of them, it can lead to infection or inflammation. If there are too few , the risk of infection increases. |
| Red Blood Cells (RBCs) | This is the delivery service that carries oxygen throughout the body. If these levels are low , you may have anemia. |
| Hemoglobin (Hemoglobin - Hb or Hgb) | This is the protein that 'catches' oxygen from inside red blood cells. This is also the reason for the red color of blood. This value is very important when looking at anemia. |
| Hematocrit (Hct) | This tells you what percentage of your blood is made up of red blood cells. A low number could indicate an iron deficiency. A high number could be a sign of dehydration. |
| Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) | This measures the average size of your red blood cells. If they are too large , it could be a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency. If they are too small , it could be anemia due to iron deficiency. |
| Platelets | These are the ones that help stop bleeding and form blood clots when you get a cut. If their numbers decrease, there is a risk of bleeding. If their numbers increase, there is a risk of unnecessary blood clotting. |
How do I understand the results of the report?
When you receive your CBC report, you will see a column called 'Reference Range' and a column called 'Your Results' with your values. If your result is within the 'Reference Range', it is considered normal. If it is below or above that range, it is abnormal.
But here's something very important : This 'Reference Range' can vary slightly from one lab to another, depending on things like your age, gender, and the altitude of the area you live in.
So don't worry about the report and the value being out of whack. Be sure to show it to your doctor and get it checked out.
The following information will help you get an idea of the ranges commonly used.
- White blood cells (WBC): 4,500 - 11,000 cells/mcL
- Red blood cells (RBC): 4.5 - 5.9 million cells/mcL for men; 4.1 - 5.1 million cells/mcL for women
- Hemoglobin: 14 - 17.5 gm/dL for men; 12.3 - 15.3 gm/dL for women
- Hematocrit: 41.5% - 50.4% for men; 35.9% - 44.6% for women
- Platelets: 150,000 - 450,000 platelets/mcL
More details in the CBC Report
Sometimes your doctor will look into these things to get a deeper understanding. These are usually included in the CBC report.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH): How much hemoglobin is in a normal red blood cell.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC): Measures the concentration of hemoglobin in a given amount of blood.
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW): Shows how much the sizes of red blood cells vary from each other.
- White Blood Cell Differential: There are 5 types of white blood cells (Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Basophils). This test shows how many of each type are present. This is very important in identifying the type of infection.
All of these values help your doctor get a complete picture of your health, so you can't make decisions based on just one value.
Take-Home Message
- A CBC (Complete Blood Count) is a very common and important blood test that looks at the main cells in your blood.
- This test provides important clues about many medical conditions, such as anemia and infections.
- Don't be alarmed if the values in the report are outside the reference range. There can be many reasons for this.
- The most important thing is to show your CBC report to a doctor and seek advice from him or her only. Don't make decisions based on what you read on the internet or what others say.
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