What is a complete blood count (CBC) test?
Complete blood count or CBC test is a simple and common blood test that helps diagnose and investigate a wide range of diseases.
The increase or decrease in the number of blood cells is determined in this blood test... Normal blood cell levels vary by age and gender.
3 type main cell blood
Checking changes in the amount of blood cells helps the doctor in evaluating general health and diagnosing disorders.... The three main types of blood cells are measured in this test.
1... red blood cellred
Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body and remove carbon dioxide.... In a CBC, or complete blood count, two components of red blood cells are measured:
- Hemoglobin: oxygen-carrying protein
- Hematocrit: the percentage of red blood cells in the blood
If hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are low on a CBC test, it often indicates anemia.... This condition occurs when the blood is low in iron.... Don't miss this article about increased red blood cell count and its symptoms.
2... blood cellwhite
White blood cells help fight infection.... A complete blood count test determines the number and type of white blood cells.... An increase or decrease in the number or type of white blood cells can be a sign of infection, inflammation, or cancer.
Learn more: What is hematocrit?
3.... Platelet
Platelets help form blood clots and control bleeding.... Any change in the amount of platelets puts you at risk of severe bleeding and can be a sign of a serious illness.
When CBC test is ordered?
Your doctor may order a CBC test as part of a routine exam or if you have symptoms related to bleeding or bruising. A CBC test will help your doctor:
- Evaluation General Health: By prescribing this test, many doctors get an overview of your health.... This test also helps the doctor to diagnose and diagnose the problem.
- Diagnosis disease: If you have symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, fever, redness, inflammation, bruising, or bleeding, your doctor will order a CBC.
- Control Disease: If you have a disorder that affects your complete blood count, your doctor will order a CBC regularly to monitor your condition.
- Control Process Treatment: Some drugs affect the number of blood cells, so it is necessary to do this test regularly... The doctor can measure the effectiveness of the treatment process by considering the CBC.
Preparation Receiving for CBC test
Be sure to wear short-sleeved clothes or a shirt with sleeves that can be rolled up easily.
Usually you can eat or drink before the CBC test.. However, your doctor may ask you not to eat anything for a short time before the test.. This is true if the blood sample is going to be used for other tests..
Process Perform CBC test
The specialist takes blood from a vein in the forearm or the back of the hand. This test only takes a few minutes.. Specialist:
- Cleans your skin with a disinfectant wipe
- The artery is tied around the arm until the vein is swollen
- Using a needle, he injects the blood sample into one or more small vials
- Remove the tourniquet
- Glue is applied to the damaged area to prevent bleeding
- labels the blood sample and sends it to a laboratory for analysis
The blood test is a bit uncomfortable....when the needle enters the skin, you feel a burning sensation... Some people feel dizzy when they see blood... After the test, a slight bruise appears on the skin, which disappears within one to two days.
In most cases, the CBC result is delivered within a few hours or a day after the test.
Learn more: pdw in blood test
For Children
To perform this test on babies, the nurse sterilizes the heel of the baby's foot and inserts a small needle called a lancet. Then she gently presses the heel and receives some blood for testing in a test tube.
Learn more: hgb in blood test
Result CBC test
CBC test results vary depending on the amount of blood cells... Then, a normal result is ready for adults, but these may vary slightly from lab to lab:
The CBC test is not sufficient and definitive for diagnosis... The increase or decrease in the number of blood cells can be caused by a wide range of disorders... We need a specialized test to accurately diagnose the disease... Among the diseases that cause abnormal changes in the CBC and require more blood tests, the following can be mentioned:
- Deficiency of iron or other vitamins and minerals
- Bleeding disorders
- heart disease
- Autoimmunity disorder
- bone marrow disease
- Cancer
- Infection or inflammation
- Drug reaction
If the CBC test result is abnormal, the doctor will order another blood test to make sure the result is correct...Also, other tests may be done to help better evaluate and confirm the disease.
Source: Healthline
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