What is a CBC

Page 1: Introduction

  • What is a CBC (Complete Blood Count)?

    • An essential blood test providing crucial health information.

  • Course Code: MLT1304

  • Date: January 2025

Page 2: CBC Results Overview

  • Sample Comments: Metal overall status indicator.

  • Sysmex XN-1000 Results: Details various blood components measured, such as:

    • WBC (White Blood Cells): 9.04 [10/UL]

    • RBC (Red Blood Cells): 3.84 [10/UL]

    • HGB (Hemoglobin): 11.0 [g/dL]

    • HCT (Hematocrit): 32.3 [%]

    • MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume): 84.1 [fL]

    • MCH, MCHC, PLT: Regulating blood components and their average concentration and volume.

    • Various other parameters (e.g., MPV, RDW.

Page 3: White Blood Cells (WBC)

  • White Blood Count Numbers for Adults:

    • Normal range: 4.0-11.0 x 10^9 /L.

    • Increased Values: Bacterial infections, leukemias.

    • Decreased Values: Viral infections.

    • Types of WBC:

      • Neutrophils

      • Lymphocytes

      • Monocytes

      • Eosinophils

      • Basophils

    • Lifespan Variability: Neutrophils live for hours; memory lymphocytes can live for years; most live for days.

Page 4: Red Blood Cells (RBC)

  • RBC Normal Values:

    • Males: 4.7–6.1 × 10^12/L.

    • Females: 4.2–5.4 × 10^12/L.

    • Also known as erythrocytes.

    • Function: Deliver oxygen to tissues.

    • Structure: Bi-concave discs containing hemoglobin.

    • Lifespan: Circulate for approximately 120 days.

Page 5: Hemoglobin (HGB)

  • Normal Hemoglobin Levels:

    • Males: 140–180 g/L

    • Females: 120–160 g/L

    • Function: Carries oxygen to tissues, transports carbon dioxide back to lungs.

    • Low levels indicate anemia.

Page 6: Hematocrit (HCT)

  • Normal Values:

    • Males: 0.42–0.52

    • Females: 0.37–0.47

    • HCT is a calculated parameter.

    • Rule of Three:

      • Correlation check between Hgb and Hct.

      • Formulas:

        • RBC × 3 = Hgb

        • Hgb × 3 = Hct ± 3.

Page 7: Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

  • Importance:

    • Measures average red blood cell size.

  • Normal Range: 80-100 fL.

    • Low MCV Causes: Iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia.

    • High MCV Causes: Megaloblastic anemia, alcoholism.

    • Calculation: MCV = (Hct ÷ RBC) × 1000.

Page 8: Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)

  • Description: Average amount of hemoglobin in a single RBC.

  • Normal Range: 27–31 pg.

  • Calculation: MCH = (Hgb ÷ RBC).

Page 9: Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)

  • Description: Average concentration of hemoglobin within RBCs.

  • Normal Range: 320-360.

  • High MCHC Causes: Spherocytosis, hemolytic anemia.

  • Differences: Can show false positives in cold agglutinin diseases.

Page 10: Platelet Count (PLT)

  • Normal Range: 150–450 × 10^9/L.

  • Critical Values:

    • Low: 20.0 × 109/L

    • High: 1,000 × 109/L.

  • Function: Begin clotting process.

  • Low Values: Associated with diseases like ITP, TTP.

Page 11: Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)

  • Normal Range: 11.5%–14.5%.

  • First indication of anemia.

  • Measurement: Variation in volume and size of erythrocytes.

  • High RDW: Indicative of anisocytosis, particularly in transfused patients.

Page 12: Mean Platelet Volume (MPV)

  • Description: Average size of platelets in blood.

  • High MPV: Indicates large or giant platelets.

Page 13: Neutrophils (%NEUT)

  • Definition: Relative neutrophil count, expressed as a percentage.

  • Function: Critical role in fighting infection.

  • Range: 40-70% of total WBCs.

Page 14: Lymphocytes (%LYMPH)

  • Function: Essential component of the immune system, assists in infection defense.

  • Increased in viral infections.

  • Normal Range: 20-40%.

Page 15: Monocytes (%MONO)

  • Function: Fights infections and helps in cellular waste removal.

  • Normal Range: 2-8%.

  • These cells differentiate into macrophages.

Page 16: Eosinophils (%EO)

  • Function: Responds to parasitic infections and allergies.

  • Normal Range: 1-4%.

  • High levels indicate parasitic infections, allergic reactions, or cancers.

Page 17: Basophils (%BASO)

  • Description: Least common type of granulocyte.

  • Normal Range: 0.5-1%.

  • Function: Fights bacterial, fungal infections.

Page 18: Absolute Counts of WBC

  • Concept: Combination of relative and absolute counts in WBC differential.

  • Relative Count: Percentage from 100-cell count.

  • Absolute Count: True distribution, calculated by multiplying WBC percentage by total WBC count.

Page 19: Absolute Count Calculation

  • Example Calculation:

    • Given WBC = 5.0 × 10^9/L:

      • Segmented Neutrophils: 40% → 2.0

      • Bands: 3% → 0.15

      • Lymphocytes: 55% → 2.75

      • Monocytes: 2% → 0.1

    • Validation: Sum must equal total WBC (2.0 + 0.15 + 2.75 + 0.1 = 5.0).