blood lab

Complete Blood Count (CBC) & Hematology

Purpose

• Provides information about blood cells: WBC, RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets.

Normal Ranges

• WBC Count: 4.0-10.5 ×10³/µL

• RBC Count:

  • Males: 4.5-6.5 ×10⁶/µL

  • Females: 3.8-5.8 ×10⁶/µL

• Hemoglobin:

  • Males: 13-18 g/dL

  • Females: 11.5-16.5 g/dL

• Hematocrit:

  • Males: 40-45%

  • Females: 37-40%

• Platelets: 150-400 ×10³/µL

Clinical Implications

• High RBC Count: Indicates polycythemia from low oxygen, dehydration, or kidney disease.

• Low WBC Count (Leukopenia): Can indicate bone marrow failure, autoimmune diseases, etc.

• Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): 80-98 fL.

• Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH): 27-34 pg.

• Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC): 32-36 g/dL.

Anemia Types

• Microcytic Hypochromic Anemia: Associated with low MCV and MCH, often due to iron deficiency.

• Macrocytic Megaloblastic Anemia: Associated with high MCV, commonly from vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency.

Additional Tests

• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR): A nonspecific inflammation marker, normal range varies by gender.

• C-reactive Protein (CRP): An acute-phase protein, preferred over ESR for faster response measurement.

Conclusion

A CBC is essential for diagnosing and monitoring various hematological conditions, providing crucial insights into overall health.