Complete Blood Count or CBC measures the amount of each individual type of blood cell in a sample of blood, also the amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cells. The results are normally expressed as a number or as a percentage. Blood comprises red blood cells, white blood cells (many different types) & platelets. PCV (packed cell volume) or HCT (hematocrit) tests are used to calculate the volume or of red blood cells present. A CBC is normally done as part of a biochemistry profile.
Types of blood cells:
- Red Blood Cells (called Erythrocytes). They contain hemoglobin & are responsible for carrying oxygen around the body.
- White Blood Cells (called Leukocytes/Leucocytes) – many types of white blood cells exist including granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils & basophils) & agranulocytes (lymphocytes, monocytes & macrophages).
- Platelets (called thromobocytes).
Common abbreviations found on the CBC results
- WBC White Blood Cell count
- RBC Red Blood Cell count
- RDW Red cell distribution width
- HGB Hemoglobin
- HCT Hematocrit or PCV Packed Cell Volume
- MCV Mean cell volume (red blood cells)
- MCH Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
- MCHC Mean cell hemoglobin concentration
- PLT Platelets
- Segs Segmental Neutrophils
- Lymphs Lymphocytes
- Monos Monocytes
- Eos Eosinophils
- Baso Basophils
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