A CBC helps your doctor check any symptoms that you may have, such as weakness, fatigue, or bruising. A CBC also helps him or her diagnose conditions, such as anemia , infection, and many other disorders. White blood cells protect the body against infection.
If an infection develops, white blood cells attack and destroy the bacteria, virus, or other organism causing it. White blood cells are bigger than red blood cells but fewer in number. When a person has a bacterial infection, the number of white cells rises very quickly. The number of white blood cells is sometimes used to find an infection or to see how the body is dealing with cancer treatment. The major types of white blood cells are neutrophils , lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.
Immature neutrophils, called band neutrophils, are also part of this test. Each type of cell plays a different role in protecting the body. The numbers of each one of these types of white blood cells give important information about the immune system. Too many or too few of the different types of white blood cells can help find an infection, an allergic or toxic reaction to medicines or chemicals, and many conditions, such as leukemia.
Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. They also carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs so it can be exhaled. If the RBC count is low anemia , the body may not be getting the oxygen it needs. If the count is too high a condition called polycythemia , there's a chance that the red blood cells will clump together and block tiny blood vessels capillaries. This also makes it hard for your red blood cells to carry oxygen.
This test measures the amount of space volume red blood cells take up in the blood. The value is given as a percentage of red blood cells in a volume of blood. Hematocrit and hemoglobin values are the two major tests that show if anemia or polycythemia is present. The hemoglobin molecule fills up the red blood cells. It carries oxygen and gives the blood cell its red color.
The hemoglobin test measures the amount of hemoglobin in blood. It's a good measure of how well the blood can carry oxygen throughout the body. They are measured by a machine, and their values come from other measurements in a CBC.
The MCV shows the size of the red blood cells. The MCH value is the amount of hemoglobin in an average red blood cell. The MCHC measures the concentration of hemoglobin in an average red blood cell. These numbers help in the diagnosis of different types of anemia. Red cell distribution width RDW can also be measured. If your blood sample is being tested only for a complete blood count, you can eat and drink normally before the test. If your blood sample will be used for additional tests, you may need to fast for a certain amount of time before the test.
Your doctor will give you specific instructions. For a complete blood count, a member of your health care team takes a sample of blood by inserting a needle into a vein in your arm, usually at the bend in your elbow. The blood sample is sent to a lab for analysis. You can return to your usual activities immediately.
A complete blood count is typically not a definitive diagnostic test. Depending on the reason your doctor recommended this test, results outside the normal range may or may not require follow-up. Your doctor may need to look at the results of a CBC along with results of other blood tests, or additional tests may be necessary.
For example, if you're otherwise healthy and have no signs or symptoms of illness, results slightly outside the normal range on a complete blood count may not be a cause for concern, and follow-up may not be needed.
Of if you're undergoing cancer treatment, the results of a complete blood count outside the normal range may indicate a need to alter your treatment plan. All the stationary cells require energy to function; thus, they need oxygen and are dependent on the RBCs to transport it.
Hemoglobin Hb or Hgb is an iron-rich protein that carries oxygen and makes the blood red. The hematocrit reflects the amount of space in the blood that is occupied by RBCs. Not all the RBCs are the same size; some are larger and some are smaller. In patients with anemia, hemoglobin levels are low and the patient may be frequently tired and have little energy. This is because there is not enough hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the stationary tissues; thus, there is not enough oxygen available to convert nutrients into energy.
Low RBC counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels can be caused by other things too, such as a lot of bleeding or malnutrition not enough nutrients in the food eaten. Kidney disease, liver disease cirrhosis , cancer, and medications used to treat cancer can also cause low levels. An increased RBC count and increased levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit may be caused by dehydration not enough water in the body or by some diseases see table.
WBCs help the body fight illness or infection. As part of the immune system, they recognize and fight things that are foreign to not part of the body. There are 5 types of WBCs; each type plays a different role in protecting the body from invaders.
The WBC count may increase when you have an infection caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. The WBC count can also increase in patients with leukemia, a cancer of the blood.
Thus, doctors use the WBC count to help determine if a patient has an infection or leukemia. When the WBC count is increased, the type of WBC can help differentiate between a bacterial infection, viral infection or leukemia. Doctors also use the WBC count to monitor various types of illness, since it may decrease in response to therapy during recovery from an illness. When performing a differential, a medical technologist looks at the various cells under a microscope.
A differential provides information about the relative numbers that is, the percentage of each type of WBC. Such information helps the doctor determine whether an illness is caused by a bacteria, a virus, or leukemia. They can also help monitor how the bone marrow recovers after a bone marrow transplant. A doctor may order one during a routine checkup or if there are signs and symptoms of an underlying problem. A CBC is a safe and common test for many conditions.
Doctors may provide one as part of a routine checkup. Many conditions affect the number and characteristics of red and white blood cells and platelets. A CBC can determine if these changes are different from what they should be and whether or not they require attention. White blood cells are vital for immune system functioning. In this article, learn about what types there are and what can affect them. Anemia is the most common blood disorder. The body does not have enough red blood cells and is unable to deliver enough oxygen around the body.
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Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. What is a CBC?
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