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Complete Blood Count
The complete blood count(CBC) is an
investigation that gives important
information about different blood cells,
mainly focuses on RBCs, WBCs,
platelets and their parameters.
Complete Blood Count
• It is a blood panel requested by a doctor
or other medical professional that gives
information about the cell in patient blood
such as cell count of each blood cell,
type, cell size , shape and concentration.
• It is also known as full blood exam.
Why CBC is recommended?
• Check for anemia
• See if you have another health issue or to explain symptoms
like weakness, fever, bruising, or feeling tired
• Keep an eye on a blood condition you already have
• See how medications or treatments like chemotherapy are
affecting your blood
Components of CBC
• Red blood cell count
• Hemoglobin (Hgb)
• Hematocrit (Hct) { packed cell vol }
• Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
• Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
• Platelets (PLT)
• White blood cell count
• White blood cell differential
Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to
the rest of the body and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the
lungs.
Normal Hemoglobin Ranges:
(Values may vary slightly by lab)
o Men: 13.8 – 17.2 grams per deciliter (g/dL)
o Women: 12.1 – 15.1 g/dL
o Children: 11 – 16 g/dL
o Pregnant Women: >11 g/dL (typically lower due to blood volume changes)
Hemoglobin
High Hemoglobin (High Hb) Could Indicate:
• Dehydration
• Lung disease (e.g., COPD)
• Living at high altitudes
• Polycythemia vera (a bone marrow disorder)
Low Hemoglobin (Low Hb) Could Indicate:
• Anemia (iron deficiency, B12 deficiency, etc.)
• Blood loss
• Chronic kidney disease
• Bone marrow disorders
Hemoglobin
Packed Cell Volume
• Packed Cell Volume(PCV) refers to a blood test that measures
the percentage of red blood cells in a blood sample. It's a part of
a complete blood count (CBC) and helps assess a person's
overall health and blood conditions.
• PCV can also be called Hematocrit.
• PCV is expressed as a percentage. For example, a PCV of
45% means that 45% of the blood's volume is made up of red
blood cells.
Packed Cell Volume
Packed Cell Volume
Normal PCV Ranges:
These values can vary slightly between labs, but general
reference ranges are:
o Men: 40% to 54%
o Women: 36% to 48%
o Children: 35% to 45%
o Newborns: 44% to 64%
Packed Cell Volume
High PCV (Polycythemia) Could Indicate:
• Dehydration
• Polycythemia vera (a bone marrow disorder)
• Chronic lung disease
• Living at high altitudes
• Smoking
Packed Cell Volume
Low PCV (Anemia) Could Indicate:
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
• Blood loss
• Bone marrow disorders
• Chronic kidney disease
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate(ESR)
• It's a blood test that measures how quickly red blood
cells (erythrocytes) settle at the bottom of a test tube.
• It's a non-specific measure of inflammation, meaning
it can indicate the presence of inflammation but
doesn't identify the exact cause.
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate(ESR)
Normal ESR Ranges:
These can vary by lab, age, and sex, but general reference values
are:
Group Normal ESR
Men < 50 years 0 – 15 mm/hr
Men > 50 years 0 – 20 mm/hr
Women < 50 years 0 – 20 mm/hr
Women > 50 years 0 – 30 mm/hr
Children 0 – 10 mm/hr
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate(ESR)
Elevated ESR May Suggest:
• Infections
• Autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)
• Chronic kidney disease
• Inflammatory conditions
• Some cancers (e.g., lymphoma)
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate(ESR)
Lupus Rheumatoid Arthritis Lymphoma
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate(ESR)
Low ESR May Be Seen In:
• Polycythemia
• Sickle cell anemia
• Leukocytosis (very high white cell count)
• Congestive heart failure
Total Leukocyte Count:
• In a blood test, TLC stands for Total Leukocyte Count, which
measures the total number of white blood cells (leukocytes) in a
blood sample.
• These white blood cells are a crucial part of the immune system,
helping the body fight off infections and diseases.
Normal TLC Range:
Adults & Children:
4,000 to 11,000 cells per microliter of blood (or 4.0 – 11.0 x 10⁹/L)
Total Leukocyte Count:
High TLC (Leukocytosis) May Indicate:
• Bacterial infections
• Inflammation
• Leukemia or other bone marrow disorders
• Tissue damage (e.g., after a burn or heart attack)
• Stress, physical or emotional
• Use of corticosteroids
Total Leukocyte Count:
Low TLC (Leukopenia) May Indicate:
• Viral infections (e.g., HIV, hepatitis)
• Severe bacterial infections (which exhaust WBCs)
• Bone marrow failure or suppression (e.g., from chemotherapy,
radiation)
• Autoimmune diseases (like lupus)
• Certain medications (e.g., anticonvulsants)