A Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Differential is a broad screening test which can aid in the diagnosis of a variety of conditions and diseases such as Anemia, Leukemia, bleeding disorders, and infections. This test is also useful in monitoring a person's reaction to treatment when a condition which affects blood cells has been diagnosed.
A CBC includes the following measurements:
White Blood Cell Count (WBC) WBC's protect the body against infections.
Red Blood Cell Count (RBC) RBC's carry oxygen throughout the body.
Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) is the variation in size of the RBC's.
Hematocrit measures the percentage of blood made of up red blood cells.
Hemoglobin is a protein which carries oxygen in the blood.
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) measures the average size of RBC's.
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) measures the average amount of hemoglobin in a red blood cell.
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) is the average percentage of hemoglobin in a red blood cell.
Platelet Count measures cell fragments which are vital for proper blood clotting.
Percentage and absolute differential counts for types of WBC's including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.
A CBC is often ordered as part of a routine health examination. It is also ordered when someone has symptoms which may indicate a condition which affects the blood cells or is undergoing treatment such as chemotherapy which affects blood cells.