A CBC test measures the following key components of blood:
-
Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
- RBCs carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
- The CBC includes measurements such as:
- Red Blood Cell Count – Total number of RBCs.
- Hemoglobin (Hb or Hgb) – The protein in RBCs that carries oxygen.
- Hematocrit (Hct) – The percentage of blood volume made up of RBCs.
- Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) – The average size of RBCs.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) – The average amount of hemoglobin per RBC.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) – The concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of RBCs.
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) – Measures variation in RBC size, which can help diagnose certain types of anemia.
-
White Blood Cells (WBCs)
- WBCs are a crucial part of the immune system and help fight infections.
- The CBC includes:
- Total White Blood Cell Count – The overall number of WBCs in the blood.
- Differential WBC Count – Breaks down different types of WBCs:
- Neutrophils – Fight bacterial infections.
- Lymphocytes – Important for viral infections and immunity.
- Monocytes – Help remove dead cells and fight infections.
- Eosinophils – Involved in allergic reactions and parasite infections.
- Basophils – Play a role in allergic responses and inflammation.
-
Platelets (Thrombocytes)
- Platelets help with blood clotting to prevent excessive bleeding.
- The CBC measures:
- Platelet Count – The total number of platelets.
- Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) – The average size of platelets.
- Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) – Measures variations in platelet size.