complete blood count (CBC)

(noun)

A test panel requested by a doctor or other medical professional that gives information about the cells in a patient's blood.

Related Terms

Examples of complete blood count (CBC) in the following topics:

  • Complete Blood Count

    • A complete blood count (CBC), useful in diagnosing disease, yields a count of numbers or volumes of the cell types in the blood.
    • This can be diagnosed by drawing blood to analyze the complete blood count and reticulocyte count.
    • A complete blood count (CBC), also known as full blood count (FBC), full blood exam (FBE), or blood panel, is a test panel that gives information about the cells in a patient's blood, as requested by a doctor or other medical professional.
    • Therefore, blood counts are among the most commonly-performed blood tests in medicine as they can provide an overview of a patient's general health status.
    • A CBC is routinely performed during annual physical examinations.

  • Diagnostic Blood Tests

    • Blood tests are laboratory analyses performed on a blood sample typically taken from a vein in the arm for diagnostic purposes.
    • Although the term blood test is used, most routine tests (except for most hematology) are done on blood plasma instead of blood cells.
    • Also, respiratory therapists are trained to extract arterial blood for arterial blood gases.
    • Blood tests can also be used to analyze the blood cells.
    • These tests include: complete blood count, hematocrit (mean corpuscular volume), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), cross-matching (to determine blood type for transfusion or transplant), and blood cultures (done if infection is suspected).

  • Anemia

    • Anemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood resulting in tissue hypoxia.
    • Anemia is typically diagnosed on a complete blood count.
    • Reticulocyte counts, and the "kinetic" approach to anemia, have become more common than in the past in the large medical centers of the United States and some other wealthy nations; in part, because some automatic counters now have the capacity to include reticulocyte counts.
    • The reticulocyte production index is a calculation of the ratio between the level of anemia and the extent to which the reticulocyte count has risen in response.
    • If the degree of anemia is significant, even a "normal" reticulocyte count actually may reflect an inadequate response.

  • Withdrawing Blood

    • Withdrawing blood is generally done by trained specialists, such as phlebotomists, using special hypodermic needles and blood tubes.
    • Blood withdrawal is performed using a blood collection tube and a hypodermic needle.
    • Withdrawing blood with a tube requires the following procedure.
    • The purple tube contains EDTA, an anticoagulant, and is typically used for a complete blood count.
    • Withdrawing blood with a vacuum tube and a double ended needle

  • Sickle-Cell Disease

    • Sickle-cell disease is an autosomal recessive genetic blood disorder in which red blood cells assume a rigid sickle shape.
    • Parvovirus infection nearly completely prevents red blood cell production for two to three days.
    • In HbSS, the full blood count reveals hemoglobin levels in the range of 6–8 g/dL with a high reticulocyte count (as the bone marrow compensates for the destruction of sickle cells by producing more red blood cells).
    • Figure A shows normal red blood cells flowing freely in a blood vessel.
    • Figure B shows abnormal, sickled red blood cells blocking blood flow in a blood vessel.

  • Leukemia

    • Leukemia is a term covering a spectrum of cancers of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an increase in immature white blood cells.
    • The younger sister, now in her 20s, is happy that she was able to save the life of her older sister, who was dying in 1990, but has now had two decades and counting of a healthy life thanks to her ‘baby' sister.
    • Crowding due to such cells makes the bone marrow unable to produce healthy blood cells.
    • Diagnosis is usually based on repeated complete blood counts and a bone marrow examination following observation of the symptoms.
    • Because these can often be attributed to other conditions, a complete blood count and/or bone marrow aspirate are required to successfully diagnose leukemia.

  • Prostatitis

    • Testing of urine samples reveals the presence of bacteria and white blood cells.
    • Blood samples can contain bacteria.
    • White blood cells counts are elevated in the complete blood count.
    • The infection is usually cured successfully with antibiotics and the recovery is complete without further complications.
    • In the case of acute prostatitis, the prostate-blood barrier is damaged by the infection so the penetrating ability of the antibiotic is not as important.

  • Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases

    • The basic tests performed when an immunodeficiency is suspected should include a full blood count ( including accurate lymphocyte and granulocyte counts) and immunoglobulin levels.
    • Quantification of the different types of mononuclear cells in the blood (lymphocytes and monocytes): different groups of T lymphocytes (dependent on their cell surface markers, e.g.
    • Schematics (also called "fishbones") of shorthand commonly used by clinicians for complete blood count.
    • Hgb=Hemoglobin, WBC=White blood cells, Plt=Platelets, Hct=Hematocrit.

  • Bone Marrow Examination

    • The bone marrow produces the cellular elements of the blood, including platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells.
    • While much information can be gleaned by testing the blood itself, it is sometimes necessary to examine the source of the blood cells in the bone marrow to obtain more information on blood cell production.
    • Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy can be safely performed even in the setting of extreme thrombocytopenia (low platelet count).
    • The entire procedure, once preparation is complete, typically takes 10–15 minutes.
    • Patients are also advised to avoid washing the procedure site for at least 24 hours after the procedure is completed.

  • Pulmonary Edema

    • It is due to either failure of the left ventricle of the heart to adequately remove blood from the pulmonary circulation ("cardiogenic pulmonary edema") or an injury to the lung parenchyma or vasculature of the lung ("noncardiogenic pulmonary edema").
    • The overwhelming symptom of pulmonary edema is difficulty breathing, but may also include coughing up blood, excessive sweating, anxiety, and pale skin.
    • Low oxygen saturation and disturbed arterial blood gas readings support the proposed diagnosis by suggesting a pulmonary shunt.
    • Blood tests are performed for electrolytes (sodium, potassium) and markers of renal function (creatinine, urea).
    • Liver enzymes, inflammatory markers (usually C-reactive protein), and a complete blood count as well as coagulation studies (PT, aPTT) are also typically requested.