A complete blood count test is a test conducted on blood collected from a patient. Blood is the key transport agent in the body that is responsible for moving important substances around the body. It is responsible for the transportation of nutrition, oxygen and hormones. It is also responsible for eliminating waste and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body. These wastes are a result of the metabolic process. The complete blood count measures all the vital information contained in a sample of blood. The blood itself is made up of several important components that allow it to perform its functions. A complete blood count measures red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin and many other important markers that help to establish a basic idea about the health of an individual. For analyzing these results, there are ranges given for each component. These ranges are typical in people of a similar age and of the same sex as the individual who is being tested. If the results of the test fall within the normal range, then one can consider the patient to be generally healthy. However, if there are variations, it can help to establish a preliminary diagnosis about the condition of the patient and it can also help to plan further testing which could be used for a full diagnosis.
Lymphocytes are a part of the white blood cells. They are made up of ‘T’ cells which remove foreign objects that are not supposed to be in the body and ‘B’ cells which are instrumental in the immune system. They produce antibodies when a suspicious foreign object is found in the blood. The other type of lymphocyte is the natural killer cell. They simply kill any object found in the cell that is considered to be abnormal such as tumor cells or infections.
A complete blood count with lymph is actually a normal count procedure with an added aspect which is the measurement of lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are associated with infections and diseases. An elevation in the level of lymphocytes is considered to be a sign of a viral infection. This may be a clue for doctors to commence antiviral treatment in a patient who has other typical signs such as fever. Abnormally, low levels of lymphocytes may be present in people who have suffered from prolonged illnesses or after the body has suffered extreme trauma. HIV is another cause for extremely low levels of ‘T’ cells.More articles from the Blood Tests Category