Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test Explained

Complete Blood Count

CBC Blood Test Complete Blood Count, A complete blood count is a routine test used to elevate the composition and concentration of the various cellular components of the blood. Red blood cells, White blood cells, and Platelets to check on a medical condition It is also known as Full blood count. It’s used to examine all health and find various conditions, including anemia, infection, and leukemia.

Purpose of Complete Blood Count ( CBC):

A complete blood count is a test to elevate your overall health and detect various disorders, including anemia, infection, and leukemia.

Function of Complete Blood Count ( CBC):

These are the cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious diseases and foreign invaders.

Purpose of WBC  Count in CBC Test:

Having a higher or lower number of white blood cells than normal may indicate an underlying condition.

Parameters of Complete Blood Count: 

1- Hemoglobin (HB)

2-Total leucocyte count (TLC)

3- Differential leucocyte count (DLC)

4- Red blood cells (RBC)

5- Pack cell volume (PCV)

6- Mean cell volume (MCV)

7- Mean cell hemoglobin (MCH)

8- Mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)

9- Platelets (PLT)

10- Lymphocyte

11- Neutrophils

12- Eosinophil

1. Hemoglobin  (Hb)

Hemoglobin is a protein containing iron that facilitates the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.

Function 

The function of hemoglobin is the transport of O2 from the lungs to tissue and CO2 from tissue to the lungs.

Normal range

13.0mg/dl – 16.0 g/dl (Male)

12.0mg/dl – 15,0 g/dl (Female)

a. Polycythemia

>17.0g/dl ( Male)

>16.0g/dl (Female)

b. Anemia

<12.omg/dl ( Male)

<11.0mg/dl (Female)

2. Total leucocyte count ( TLC )

Function

These cells of the immune system are involved in protecting the body against both disease and foreign invaders. They have higher or lower WBCs, which may indicate an underlying condition.

Normal Range

Adult – 4000 – 1100 cells /ul of blood

2-6 years – 5000-19000 cells/ul of blood

New borns-9000-30000 cells/ul of blood

 a. Leucopenia 

when the WBC count is less than 4000 cells /ul of blood.

Causes of Leucopenia

• Chemotherapy and radiation
• Aplastic Anemia
• Bone marrow
• Infectious disease
• Autoimmune disorders
• Malnutrition

 b. Leukocytosis

When WBC counts more than 11000 /cells ul of blood.

Causes of Leukocytosis

• Infection or inflammation
• Pregnancy’s
• Bone marrow tumor
• Certain types of leukemia
• Smoking burn, injury

3. Differential Leucocyte count (DLC)

• Neutrophil
• Lymphocyte
• Monocyte
• Eosinophil
• Basophil

Each type of WBC has a specific function in defending the body against infection.

Function

They play important roles in the distraction of bacteria and release chemicals that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria.

Normal Range  of DLC

40 % – 70%

a. Neutrophilia 

If the neutrophils are higher than 70% then

Causes of Neutrophilia

• Bacterial infection
• Smoking, injury
• Sever exercise
• Steroid use

b. Neutropenia

If the neutrophils are lower than 40% then

Causes of Neutropenia

• HIV, AIDS
• Aplastic anemia
• Bone marrow failure
• Chemotherapy and radiation
• Leukemia

(i)  Lymphocyte

A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell in the immune system of most vertebrates. It includes B cells, T cells, and innate lymphoids.

Function of Lymphocyte

Destroying cells infected by viruses and foreign invading cells and producing antibodies.

Normal Range of Lymphocyte 

20% – 40%

 a. Lymphocytopenia 

If lymphocyte is lower than 20% then

Causes of Lymphocytopenia

• Chemotherapy drugs
• Blood disease ( Hodgkin disease )
• Viral hepatitis
• Autoimmune disease ( Lupus )
• Steroid uses

b. Lymphocytosis

If the lymphocyte count is higher than 40% then

Causes of Lymphocytosis

• Viral infection
• Cytomegalovirus
• Cancer if blood
• Mononucleosis

(ii) Eosinophil

Eosinophil is a condition in which the eosinophil count in the peripheral blood exceeds 5 x 108/L.

Function of Eosinophil

Destruction of allergens and inflammatory chemicals and release enzymes that disable parasites.

Normal Range of Eosinophil 

2%-6%

a. Eosinophilia 

When eosinophils count us more than 6% then

Causes of Eosinophilia 

• Asthma
• Hay fever
• Skin disorder
• Autoimmune disease
• Parasitic infection

b. Eosinopenia

When the eosinopenia count is less than 2% then

Causes of Eosinopenia 

• Crushing syndrome
• Alcohol intoxication
• Sepsis

(iii) Monocytes

Monocytes are the type of white  blood cells or leukocyte

Function of Monocyte

Monocytes change into macrophages in tissue where they clean up cells by phagocytosis. Monocytes either kill the invader or alert other blood cells to help destroy it and prevent infection

Normal Range of Monocyte

2%-10%

a. Monocytosis 

When the monocyte count is more than 10% then

Causes of Monocytosis

• Bacterial, viral, and fungal infection
• Autoimmune disease
• Tuberculosis
• Inflammatory bowel disease

b. Monocytopenia

When the monocyte count is less than 2% then

Causes of Monocytopenia

• Chemotherapy and radiation
• HIV, AIDS
• Bone marrow disorder
• Sepsis

(iv) Besophil

Besophil is the type of white blood cell that works closely with your immune system to defend your body from pathogens, allergens, and parasites.

Function of Besophil

When the basophils count is more than 1%  then

Causes of Besophil

• Leukemia
• Autoimmune disease

a. Besopenia

When the basophil count is lower than 0.5% then

Causes of Besopenia 

• Acute infection
• Chemotherapy
• Hyperthyroidism

How to calculate the Absolute count of different leucocytes?

The absolute count for a particular type of WBC is calculated when the total WBC multiplies by a different percentage for than cell type in a given blood sample.

For example: If neutrophils are 50% stained and the total WBC count is 6000/ul of blood.

•    =   % of neutrophil x TLC  divided by 100
•    =     50 x 6000 divided by 100
•    =     3000 cells per microliter of blood 

4- Red blood cells ( Erythrocytes )

Red blood cells referred to as erythrocytes in academia and medical publishing are the most common type of blood cells and the vertebrates’ principal means of delivering oxygen to the body tissues.

Function of Red blood cells  

Rbcs contain a special protein called hemoglobin. HB carries O2 from the lungs to the tissue and carries CO2 from the tissue to the lungs.

Normal range of Red blood cells

4.5 to 6.0 million cells per microlitter of blood ( Male )

4.2 to 5.5 million cells per microliter of blood ( Female )

a . Erythrocytopenia

Erythrocytopenia is less than 4.5 to 4.2 male or female million cells per microliter of blood.

Causes of Erythrocytopenia 

• Multiple myeloma
• Iron, Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Malnutrition
• Internal external bleeding

b. Erythrocytosis:

More than 6.0 or 5.5 male or  female million cells per microliter of blood

Causes of Erythrocytosis

• Smoking
• Kidney tumor
• Lungs disease
• Polycythemia vera

5- Hematocrit or PVC 

The hematocrit, is also known by several others names, is the volume percentage of red blood cells in blood, measured as part of a blood test.

Normal range of PVC

Male ( 41% to 50% )

Female( 36% to 48%)

Causes of low Hematortic

• Seen in anemia  of sickle cell
• Iron, folate, Vit B12 deficiency
• Bone marrow disorder

Causes of High Hematortic 

• Seen in polycythemia
• Dehydration
• Lung disease
• Heart disease

6-  Mean cell or Corpuscular volume ( MCV) 

The mean corpuscular volume indicates the average size of red blood cells.

MCV PCV% x 10 Femtoliter divided by RBCs count

Normal range of MCV 

80-100 femtoliter

Causes of High MCV 

• > 100 fl ( Macrocyte )
• Folic acid and Vit B12 B deficiency

Causes of low MCV

• < 80 fl ( Microcyte )
• Iron deficiency
• Thalassemia

Mean cell hemoglobin ( MCH )

The mean cell hemoglobin reflects the average amount of hb in each red blood cell.

MCH hb x 10pg divided by Rbcs count

Normal range of MCH 

27-33 picogram

Causes of low MCH 

• Vit B12 and folic acid deficiency

Causes of High MCH 

• Iron deficiency
• Thalassemia

8- Mean cell hemoglobin concentration ( MCHC)

The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration is a measure of the concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of packed red blood cells. The average concentration of hb is given

MCHC hb x 100  divided by PVC%

Normal range of MCHC 

33-35g/dl

9- Platelet Count

Platelets or thrombocytes are a blood component whose function is to react to bleeding from blood vessel injury by clumping. It helps in the formation of a blood clot to prevent blood loss.

Normal range of Platelets

150000- 450000 cells per microliter of blood

Causes of Low Platelets

• Bone marrow disorders ( Thrombocytopenia )
• Viruses, dengue, mumps, and chicken pox
• AIDS
• hereditary
• Aplastic anemia

Causes of low Platelets

• Cancer ( lungs, breast, ovarian, lymphoma)
• IDA
• Hemolytic anemia
• Absence of spleen
• Reaction of medicine

What are the prices of a CBC test in Pakistan?

The price of a Complete Blood count test in Pakistan is around Rs. 800-1050. Different laboratories have different prices.

• The price of a CBC test in Chughtai Lab is Rs.1050-3000
• In Punjab government imposed a Rs. 200 fee on the CBC test
• In Aga Khan Hospital price of a CBC test is Rs. 1500 – 2250

How do you prepare for a CBC blood test?

There is no special preparation and no fasting required for the CBC blood test. You can eat or drink usually before the test.

What is the Full form of the CBC test?  

The full form of the CBC test is the Complete Blood Count Test.

The procedure of Blood Taking?

• Take a blood sample in an EDTA tube
• You can perform manual as well as Automachine Analyzer
• Put the sample and take readings from the Hematology Analyzer

Description:
Complete Blood Count Test:
You will learn about the complete blood count procedure and all parameters used in the CBC Test, you will know the significance of every parameter in detail and you will know what are the conditions in which these parameters decrease and increase.
CBC is a comprehensive blood test and it’s used to insight into your overall health and find a wide range of conditions including Anemia, WBC infection, platelets, and leukemia
The most important are Red blood cells which carry oxygen, WBC which fight against infection and platelets perform a function in blood clotting.