Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Sample Type
Blood
Tube Type
EDTA Tube
Fasting Required
No
Lab
Serum
Overview
A Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a comprehensive blood test used to evaluate overall health and detect a variety of disorders, including anemia, infection, and leukemia. It measures several components of your blood:
Red Blood Cells (RBCs) – carry oxygen
White Blood Cells (WBCs) – fight infections
Hemoglobin (Hb or Hgb) – oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells
Hematocrit (Hct) – proportion of red blood cells in blood
Platelets – help with blood clotting
Additional indices provide detailed insights into red blood cell morphology and function, such as:
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)
Test Result Interpretation
Test Component | Normal Range | High Value May Indicate | Low Value May Indicate |
|---|---|---|---|
WBC (White Blood Cell Count) | 4,000 – 11,000 cells/µL | Infection, inflammation, leukemia | Bone marrow disorders, autoimmune diseases |
RBC (Red Blood Cell Count) | Male: 4.7–6.1 million/µLFemale: 4.2–5.4 million/µL | Dehydration, polycythemia vera | Anemia, bleeding, nutritional deficiencies |
Hemoglobin (Hb) | Male: 13.8–17.2 g/dLFemale: 12.1–15.1 g/dL | Lung disease, dehydration | Anemia, blood loss, chronic disease |
Hematocrit (Hct) | Male: 40.7–50.3%Female: 36.1–44.3% | Dehydration, polycythemia | Anemia, fluid overload |
MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) | 80–100 fL | Macrocytic anemia (B12 or folate deficiency) | Microcytic anemia (iron deficiency, thalassemia) |
MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin) | 27–33 pg | Macrocytic anemia | Microcytic anemia |
MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration) | 32–36 g/dL | Spherocytosis | Iron deficiency anemia |
RDW (Red Cell Distribution Width) | 11.5–14.5% | Mixed anemia, iron/B12/folate deficiency | Uniform cell population (normal in some cases) |
Platelet Count | 150,000 – 450,000/µL | Inflammation, infection, bone marrow disorders | Bleeding disorders, bone marrow disease |
MPV (Mean Platelet Volume) | 7.5–11.5 fL | Increased platelet production | Bone marrow suppression |
Risk Assessment
Reference ranges can vary slightly between labs.
Always interpret CBC results in conjunction with clinical symptoms and other tests.
Abnormal values may require further investigation or specialist referral.