COMPLETE BLOOD

COUNT (CBC)
UNDERSTAND YOUR BLOOD TESTS SERIES_2
COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC)

• The complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered blood tests.
• It is the calculation of the cellular (formed elements) of blood.
• A major portion of the CBC is the measure of the concentration of white blood cells (WBC), red blood
cells (RBC) and platelets in the blood.
• It is consist of WBC, WBC differential count, RBC, Hematocrit (Hct), Hemoglobin (Hbg), Mean
corpuscular volume (MCV), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
concentration (MCHC), Platelet count, Mean Platelet Volume (MPV).
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT (WBC)
• White blood count measures the total number of white blood cells in a given volume of blood. Since
WBCs kill bacteria, this count is a measure of the body's response to infection.
• Clinical Range: 4,500 -11,000 cu.mm
• Optimal Range: 5,000 -8,000 cu.mm
• Red Alert range: <3,000 or >13,000 cu.mm
• WBC Increase Causes: Active infection, Leukemia, Childhood diseases (measles, mumps, chicken-pox,
etc.)
• WBC Decrease Causes: Chronic Viral or Bacterail infections, Lupus (SLE).
• NOTE: An increase or decrease in total WBC in conjunction with a lymphocyte count below 20 and serum
Albumin below 4.0 is pattern frequently seen ina developing neoplasm (tumour).
RED BLOOD CELL COUNT (RBC)

• It is made in the spleen, Reveals the oxygen carrying ability of the blood.
• Clinical Adult Male Range: 4.60-6.0 million cu/mm: Female Range: 3.90-5.50 million cu/mm.
• Optimal Adult Male Range: 4.20-4.90 million cu/mm: Female Range: 3.90-4.50 million cu/mm.
• Red Alert Range Men: <3.90 or >6.00 million cu/mm: Female: <3.50 or >5.00 million cu/mm.
• RBC Increase Causes: Polythemia, dehydration, Respiratory distress e.g. asthma, emphysema.
• RBC Decrease Causes: Iron deficiency, internal bleeding.
• NOTE: Consider checking Iron and ferritin levels with low levels of RBC.
HEMATOCRIT
• Hematocrit is the measurement of the percentage of red blood cells in whole blood. It is an important
determinant of anemia (decreased), dehydration (elevated) or possible overhydration (decreased).
• Clinical Adult Male Range: 40.0-52.0 percent: Clinical Adult Female Range: 36.0-47.0 percent
• Optimal Adult Male Range: 40.0-48.0 percent: Optimal Adult Female Range: 37.0-44.0 percent
• Red Alert Range <32.0 or >55 percent
• Common Causes of Hematocrit Increase: same as haemoglobin
• Common Causes of Hematocrit Decrease: same as hemoglobin
• NOTE: Suspect Iron anemia if serum iron, hemoglobin and hemocrit are all low. Suspect B-6 anemia if
MCT, hemocrit and iron are low (also look for a low SGOT), Suspect B12/folic acid anemia if you have a
low hemocrit with a high MCH, MCV and iron. Consider getting a ferritin test
HEMOGLOBIN

• Hemoglobin provides the main transport of oxygen and carbon in the blood. It is composed of "globin",
a group of amino acids that form a protein and "heme", which contains iron. It is an important
determinant of anemia (decreased hemoglobin) or poor diet/nutrition or malabsorption.
• Clinical Adult Male Range: 13.5-18.0g/dL: Clinical Adult Female Range: 12.5-16.0g/dL
• Optimal Adult Male Range: 14.0-15.0g/dL: Optimal Adult Female Range: 13.5-14.5g/dL
• Red Alert Range <10.0 or >17g/dL
• Common Causes of Hemoglobin Increase: Polycythemia, dehydration, emphysema, asthma
• Common Causes of Hemoglobin Decrease: Anemia, internal bleeding, dig
• NOTE: Consider checking iron and ferritin levels with low levels of Hemoglobin
MEAN CORPUSCULAR VOLUME (MCV)
• MCV is the average volume of a red blood cell. This is a calculated value derived from the hematocrit and red cell
count.
• Clinical Adult Range: 81.0-99.0cu.microns
• Optimal Adult Range: 82.0-89.9cu.microns
• Red Alert Range <78.0 or >95.0cu.microns
• Common Causes of MCV Count Increase: Vitamin B-12/Folic Acid Anemia
• Common Causes of MCV Count Decrease: Iron anemia, internal bleeding
• NOTE: If the MCV is >89.9 and the MCH is >31.9, suspect Vitamin B-12 or folic anemia. This should be confirmed with
a serum or urinary methylmalonic (vitamin B-12) and a serum or urinary homocysteine (folic acid and vitamin B-6)
• If iron, ferritin are normal and MCV, MCH, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit are all decreased, suspect a toxic metal body
burden .
MEAN CORPUSCULAR HEMOGLOBIN (MCH)
• MCH is the average amount of hemoglobin in the average red cell. This is a calculated value derived from the
measurement of hemoglobin and the red cell count.
• Clinical Adult Range: 26.0-33.0 micro-micro grams
• Optimal Adult Range: 27.0-31.9 micro-micro grams
• Red Alert Range <24.0 or >34.0 micro-micro grams
• Common Causes of MCV Count Increase: Vitamin B-12/Folic Acid Anemia
• Common Causes of MCV Count Decrease: Iron anemia, internal bleeding
• NOTE: If the MCV is >89.9 and the MCH is >31.9, suspect Vitamin B-12 or folic anemia. This should be confirmed with
a serum or urinary methylmalonic (vitamin B-12) and a serum or urinary homocysteine (folic acid and vitamin B-6)
• If iron, ferritin are normal and MCV, MCH, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit are all decreased, suspect a toxic metal body
burden .
PLATELETS

• Platelets are concerned with the clotting of the blood.

• Clinical Adult Range: 150,000-450,000 cu.mm
• Optimal Adult Range: 200,000-300,000 cu.mm
• Red Flag Range <50,000 or >600,000 cu.mm
• Common Causes of Platelets Increase: Polycythemia, inflammatory arthritis, several types of anemia,
arteriosclerosis, acute blood loss.
• Common Causes of Platelets Decrease: Leukemia, liver dysfunction.
• NOTE: The following drugs have been found to lower Platelets: quinidine, heparin, gold salts, sulfas,
digitoxin.
MEAN PLATELET VOLUME (MPV)
• It measures the average size of your platelets.
• High MPV Meaning: That your platelets are larger than average. It is produced in bone marrow and released into the
bloodstream. Larger platelets are usually young and more recently released from the bone marrow. Smaller platelets are more
likely to have been in circulation for a few days. When someone has a low platelet count and a high MPV level, it suggests that
the bone marrow is rapidly producing platelets. This may be because older platelets are being destroyed, so the bone marrow
is trying to compensate. It is seen in several types of Cancers.
• Other Causes: Hyperthyroidism, heart disease, diabetes, vitamin D deficiency, HBP, stroke, atrial fibrilliation.
• Low MPV Meaning: your platelets are smaller than average. Smaller platelets tend to be older, so a low MPV could mean your
bone marrow isn't producing enough new ones. Again, a low MPV on its own doesn't mean anything.
• Depending on your other CBC results, a low MPV could indicate: inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's
disease or ulcerative colitis cytotoxic medications, which are used in chemotherapy aplastic anemia.
• NOTE: Keep in mind that MPV only refers to the size of your platelets, not the actual number of them. Your MPV alone doesn't
mean you have anything.
LIMITS OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF
WARRANTY

• The info is not intended for use as a source of any legal or medical advice.
• All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or
treatment for specific medical conditions.
SOURCE

• Dr. Grisanti’s “How to quickly and easily understand your blood tests without a medical degree”.
• You can order the same through www.YourMedicalDetective.com.