11 min - BioSense Team - 2025-01-18
- CBC
- blood count
- anemia
- blood cells
Complete Blood Count: Decoding Your CBC
Note: This guide is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.
The Complete Blood Count (CBC) is the most prescribed analysis. It evaluates blood cells.
Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes)
### Red cell count - Men: 4.5-5.5 million/μL - Women: 4.0-5.0 million/μL - Role: Oxygen transport
### Hemoglobin (Hb) - Men: 13-17 g/dL - Women: 12-15 g/dL - Anemia: Hb < 13 g/dL (M), < 12 g/dL (W)
### Hematocrit (Hct) - Men: 40-52% - Women: 36-46% - Definition: Volume occupied by red blood cells
### Red cell indices - MCV: 80-100 fL (mean corpuscular volume) - MCH: 27-32 pg (mean corpuscular hemoglobin) - MCHC: 32-36 g/dL (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration)
White Blood Cells (Leukocytes)
### Total count - Normal: 4,000-10,000/μL - Leukopenia: < 4,000/μL - Leukocytosis: > 10,000/μL
### Differential count - Neutrophils: 50-70% (2,000-7,000/μL) - Lymphocytes: 20-40% (1,000-4,000/μL) - Monocytes: 3-8% (200-800/μL) - Eosinophils: 1-4% (50-400/μL) - Basophils: 0-2% (0-200/μL)
Platelets (Thrombocytes)
### Count - Normal: 150,000-400,000/μL - Thrombocytopenia: < 150,000/μL - Thrombocytosis: > 400,000/μL
### Mean platelet volume (MPV) - Normal: 7-11 fL - Interpretation: Platelet turnover
Main Abnormalities
### Anemias - Iron deficiency: Low MCV, low iron - Inflammatory: Normal MCV, elevated CRP - B12/folate: Elevated MCV - Hemolytic: Elevated bilirubin, low haptoglobin
### Infections - Bacterial: Neutrophilia - Viral: Relative lymphocytosis - Parasitic: Eosinophilia
### Blood disorders - Leukemia: Circulating blasts - Lymphoma: Atypical lymphocytes - Myeloma: Abnormal plasma cells
Advice Based on Results
### Mild anemia - Iron studies: Iron, ferritin, transferrin - Diet: Heme iron (red meat) - Vitamin C: Improves iron absorption
### Leukopenia - Causes: Viral, drug-induced - Monitoring: Repeat analysis - Prevention: Enhanced hygiene measures
### Thrombocytopenia - Search for: Medications, alcohol - Warning signs: Bleeding, petechiae - Urgent consultation: < 50,000/μL
Related Articles
See also: CBC MCV/RDW, Ferritin, Platelets and Inflammation.
*Information based on American Society of Hematology recommendations*