Schematics of shorthand for complete blood count commonly used by physicians. The shorthand on the right is used more often in the US.

A complete blood count (CBC) or full blood count (FBC) or full blood exam (FBE) is a test requested by a doctor or other medical professional that gives information about the cells in a patient's blood. A CBC is also known as a "hemogram". Image File history File links CBC_with_Hct. ... Image File history File links CBC_with_Hct. ... This article is about the country in North America. ... The delivery of modern health care depends on an expanding group of highly trained professionals coming together as an interdisciplinary team. ...

The cells that circulate in the bloodstream are generally divided into three types: white blood cells (leukocytes), red blood cells (erythrocytes), and platelets or thrombocytes. Abnormally high or low counts may indicate the presence of many forms of disease, and hence blood counts are amongst the most commonly performed blood tests in medicine. Cells in culture, stained for keratin (red) and DNA (green). ... Human blood smear: a - erythrocytes; b - neutrophil; c - eosinophil; d - lymphocyte. ... White Blood Cells is also the name of a White Stripes album. ... Human red blood cells Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell and are the vertebrate bodys principal means of delivering oxygen to body tissues via the blood. ... A 250 ml bag of newly collected platelets. ... Blood tests are laboratory tests done on blood to gain an appreciation of disease states and the function of organs. ...

Methods

Samples

Blood is taken in a test tube containing an anticoagulant (EDTA, sometimes citrate) to stop it from clotting, and transported to a laboratory. A test tube (Sometimes culture tube) is a kind of laboratory glassware, composed of a fingerlike length of glass tubing, open at the top, sometimes with a rounded lip at the top, and a rounded U shaped bottom. ... An anticoagulant is a substance that prevents coagulation; that is, it stops blood from clotting. ... EDTA is the chemical compound ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. ... Chemical strucutre of citric acid. ... The coagulation of blood is a complex process during which blood forms solid clots. ... Biochemistry laboratory at the University of Cologne. ...

In the past, counting the cells in a patient's blood was performed manually, by viewing a slide prepared with a sample of the patient's blood under a microscope (a blood film, or peripheral smear). Nowadays, this process is generally automated by use of an automated analyser, with only specific samples being examined manually. A microscope (Greek: micron = small and scopos = aim) is an instrument for viewing objects that are too small to be seen by the naked or unaided eye. ... A microscopic view of an abnormal blood film. ... An automated analyser is a laboratory machine designed to measure different chemicals in a number of biological samples quickly, with minimal human assistance. ...

Automated blood count

The blood is well mixed (though not shaken) and placed on a special rack on the analyzer. This instrument has many different components to analyze different elements in the blood. The cell counting component counts the numbers and types of different cells within the blood. The results are printed out or sent to a computer for review by a technologist.

Blood counting machines aspirate a very small amount of the specimen through narrow tubing. Within this tubing, there are sensors that count the number of cells going through it, and can identify the type of cell. The two main sensors used are light detectors, and electrical impedance. One way the instrument can tell what type of blood cell is present is by size. Other instruments measure different characteristics of the cells to categorize them. In electrical engineering, Impedance is a measure of opposition to a sinusoidal electric current. ...

Because an automated cell counter samples and counts so many cells, the results are very precise. However, certain abnormal cells in the blood may be identified incorrectly, and require the trained eye of a medical technologist. Medical technologists are specially trained to review the instrument's results and identify any abnormal cells the instrument could not categorize.

In addition to counting, measuring, and analyzing red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, automated hematology analyzers also measure the amount of hemoglobin in our blood and within each red blood cell. This information can be very helpful to a physician who, for example, is trying to identify the cause of a patient's anemia. If the red cells are smaller or larger than normal, or if there's a lot of variation in the size of the red cells, this data can help guide the direction of further testing and expedite the diagnostic process so patients can get the treatment they need quickly.

Automated blood counting machines include the Beckman Coulter LH series, Sysmex XE-2100, Bayer ADVIA 120, and the Abbott Cell-Dyn series. An XE-2100 with no stainer attached. ... Abbott Laboratories NYSE: ABT is a pharmaceuticals and health care company. ...

Manual blood count

Counting chambers that hold a specified volume of diluted blood (as there are far too many cells if it is not diluted) are used to calculate the number of red and white cells per litre of blood.

To identify the numbers of different white cells, a blood film is made, and a large number of white cells (at least 100) are counted. This gives the percentage of cells that are of each type. By multiplying the percentage with the total number of white blood cells, the absolute number of each type of white cell can be obtained. A microscopic view of an abnormal blood film. ... White blood cells (a. ...

The advantage of manual counting by a medical technologist is that blood cells that may be misidentified by an automated counter can be identified visually. It is, however, subject to human error because so few cells are counted compared with automated analysis.

Results

For examples of standard values, see Reference ranges for common blood tests#Hematology. A reference range is a set of values used by a health professional to interpret a set of medical test results. ...

A complete blood count will normally include:

Red cells

• Total red blood cells - The number of red cells is given as an absolute number per litre.
• Hemoglobin - The amount of hemoglobin in the blood, expressed in grams per litre. (Low hemoglobin is called anemia.)
• Hematocrit or packed cell volume (PCV) - This is the fraction of whole blood volume that consists of red blood cells.
• Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) - the average volume of the red cells, measured in femtolitres. Anemia is classified as microcytic or macrocytic based on whether this value is above or below the expected normal range. Other conditions that can affect MCV include thalassemia and reticulocytosis.
• Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) - the average amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell, in picograms.
• Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) - the average concentration of hemoglobin in the cells.
• Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) - a measure of the variation of the RBC population

Human red blood cells Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell and are the vertebrate bodys principal means of delivering oxygen from the lungs or gills to body tissues via the blood. ... 3-dimensional structure of hemoglobin. ... This article discusses the medical condition. ... The hematocrit (Ht or HCT) and packed cell volume (PCV) are measures of the proportion of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells. ... The mean corpuscular volume, or MCV, is a measure of the average red blood cell volume that is reported as part of a standard complete blood count. ... The femtolitre (US femtoliter) is the metric unit of volume equal to 10-15 litre, or one quindecillionth (European) or one quadrillionth (American) litre. ... This article discusses the medical condition. ... Microcytic anemia is characterised by small red blood cells. ... Thalassemia (American English) (or thalassaemia in British English), also know as Cooleys anemia, is an inherited disease of the red blood cells, classified as a hemoglobinopathy. ... Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells, that normally comprise about 1% of the red cells in the human body. ... The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, or MCHC, is a measure of the concentration of hemoglobin in a red blood cell. ... The picogram is an SI unit of mass (symbol pg) defined as: 1 pg = 1 × 10-15 kilogram (1 × 10-12 gram) A picogram is one trillionth (1/1000000000000) of a gram. ... The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, or MCHC, is a measure of the concentration of hemoglobin in a red blood cell. ... The red blood cell distribution width, or RDW, is a measure of the variation of red blood cell volume that is reported as part of a standard complete blood count. ...

White cells

• Total white blood cells - All the white cell types are given as a percentage and as an absolute number per litre.

A complete blood count with differential will also include: White Blood Cells is also the name of a White Stripes album. ...

• Neutrophil granulocytes - May indicate bacterial infection. May also be raised in acute viral infections.
• Lymphocytes - Higher with some viral infections such as glandular fever and. Also raised in lymphocytic leukaemia CLL.
• Monocytes - May be raised in bacterial infection
• Eosinophil granulocytes - Increased in parasitic infections.
• Basophil granulocytes

A manual count will also give information about other cells that are not normally present in peripheral blood, but may be released in certain disease processes. Neutrophil granulocytes, generally referred to as neutrophils, are the most abundant type of white blood cells and form an integral part of the immune system. ... Subgroups Actinobacteria Aquificae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chlamydiae/Verrucomicrobia Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are a major group of living organisms. ... A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell involved in the human bodys immune system. ... Groups I: dsDNA viruses II: ssDNA viruses III: dsRNA viruses IV: (+)ssRNA viruses V: (-)ssRNA viruses VI: ssRNA-RT viruses VII: dsDNA-RT viruses A virus (Latin, poison) is a microscopic particle that can infect the cells of a biological organism. ... Infectious mononucleosis (also known as mono, the kissing disease, Pfeiffers disease, and, in British English, glandular fever) is a disease seen most commonly in adolescents and young adults, characterized by fever, sore throat and fatigue. ... CLL is an abbreviation that can stand for: chronic lymphocytic leukemia Central Lancashire League This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Monocyte A monocyte is a leukocyte, part of the human bodys immune system that protect against blood-borne pathogens and move quickly to sites of infection in the tissues. ... Eosinophils are white blood cells that are responsible for combating infection by parasites in the body. ... A parasite is an organism that spends a significant portion of its life in or on the living tissue of a host organism and which causes harm to the host without immediately killing it. ... Basophil granulocyte Basophils are the least common of the granulocytes, representing about 1% of circulating leukocytes. ...

Platelets

• Platelet numbers are given, as well as information about their size and the range of sizes in the blood.

A 250 ml bag of newly collected platelets. ...

Interpretation

Certain disease states are defined by an absolute increase or decrease in the number of a particular type of cell in the bloodstream. For example: A disease is an abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress to the person afflicted or those in contact with the person. ...

Many disease states are heralded by changes in the blood count: Human red blood cells Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell and are the vertebrate bodys principal means of delivering oxygen from the lungs or gills to body tissues via the blood. ... In medicine, erythrocytosis is a term for a high red blood count. ... Polycythemia is a condition in which there is a net increase in the total circulating d (rdfed blood cell) mass of the body. ... This article discusses the medical condition. ... Acquired pure red cell aplasia (or PRCA) refers to a type of anemia affecting the precursors to red blood cells but not to white blood cells. ... White blood cells (a. ... Leukocytosis is an elevation of the white blood cell count (the leukocyte count) above the normal range. ... Leukopenia or leukocytopenia refers to a decrease in the number of circulating white blood cells (leukocytes) in the blood. ... A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell involved in the human bodys immune system. ... A lymphocytosis is an increase in the number of lymphocytes in the blood. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Granulocytes are a category of white blood cells characterised by the presence of granules in their cytoplasm. ... In medicine, granulocytosis is the presence in peripheral blood of an increased number of granulocytes, a category of white blood cells. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... Neutrophil granulocytes, generally referred to as neutrophils, are the most abundant type of white blood cells and form an integral part of the immune system. ... Neutrophilia (or neutrophil leukocytosis) is a condition where a person has a high number of neutrophil granulocytes in their blood. ... It has been suggested that Agranulocytosis be merged into this article or section. ... Eosinophils are white blood cells that are responsible for combating infection by parasites in the body. ... Eosinophilia is the state of having high eosinophil granulocytes in the blood. ... Eosinophils are white blood cells that are responsible for combating infection by parasites in the body. ... A 250 ml bag of newly collected platelets. ... Thrombocytosis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Thrombocytopenia (or -paenia, or thrombopenia in short) is the presence of relatively few platelets in blood. ... Pancytopenia is a medical condition in which there is a reduction in the number of red and white blood cells, as well as platelets. ...

• leukocytosis can be a sign of infection.
• thrombocytopenia can result from drug toxicity.
• pancytopenia is generally as the result of decreased production from the bone marrow, and is a common complication of cancer chemotherapy.