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CBC



Red blood cells, sickle cell
Red blood cells, sickle cell
Megaloblastic anemia - view of red blood cells
Megaloblastic anemia - view of red blood cells
Red blood cells, tear-drop shape
Red blood cells, tear-drop shape
Red blood cells, normal
Red blood cells, normal
Red blood cells, elliptocytosis
Red blood cells, elliptocytosis
Red blood cells, spherocytosis
Red blood cells, spherocytosis
Red blood cells, multiple sickle cells
Red blood cells, multiple sickle cells
Basophil (Close-up)
Basophil (Close-up)
Malaria, microscopic view of cellular parasites
Malaria, microscopic view of cellular parasites
Malaria, photomicrograph of cellular parasites
Malaria, photomicrograph of cellular parasites
Red blood cells, sickle cells
Red blood cells, sickle cells
Red blood cells, sickle and pappenheimer
Red blood cells, sickle and pappenheimer
Red blood cells, target cells
Red blood cells, target cells
Formed elements of blood
Formed elements of blood


CBC

Alternative Names:

Complete blood count
Normal Values:
  • RBC (varies with altitude):
    • Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/mcL
    • Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL
  • WBC: 4,500 to 10,000 cells/mcL
  • Hematocrit (varies with altitude):
    • Male: 40.7 to 50.3 %
    • Female: 36.1 to 44.3 %
  • Hemoglobin (varies with altitude):
    • Male: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dL
    • Female: 12.1 to 15.1 gm/dL
  • MCV: 80 to 95 femtoliter
  • MCH: 27 to 31 pg/cell
  • MCHC: 32 to 36 gm/dL


(cells/mcL = cells per microliter; gm/dL = grams per deciliter; pg/cell = picograms per cell)


What abnormal results mean:

High numbers of RBCs may indicate:

Low numbers of RBCs may indicate:

Low numbers of WBCs (leukopenia) may indicate:

  • Bone marrow failure (for example, due to infection, tumor or fibrosis)
  • Presence of cytotoxic substance
  • Autoimmune/collagen-vascular diseases (such as lupus erythematosus)
  • Disease of the liver or spleen
  • Radiation exposure

High numbers of WBCs (leukocytosis) may indicate:

  • Infectious diseases
  • Inflammatory disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis or allergy)
  • Leukemia
  • Severe emotional or physical stress
  • Tissue damage (SUCH AS burns)

Low hematocrit may indicate:

  • Anemia (various types)
  • Blood loss (hemorrhage)
  • Bone marrow failure (for example, due to radiation, toxin, fibrosis, tumor)
  • Hemolysis (RBC destruction) related to transfusion reaction
  • Leukemia
  • Malnutrition or specific nutritional deficiency
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

High hematocrit may indicate:

  • Dehydration
    • Burns
    • Diarrhea
  • Polycythemia vera
  • Low oxygen tension (smoking, congenital heart disease, living at high altitudes)

Low hemoglobin values may indicate:

  • Anemia (various types)
  • Blood loss
The test may be performed under many different conditions and in the assessment of many different diseases.



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