Complete blood count

Health by Numbers Module 2- CBC

1. Complete Blood Count CBC

2. Watch the video in the next section to increase your understanding of CBC values.

3. A complete blood count test measures several components and features of your blood, including: Red blood cells, which carry oxygen White blood cells, which fight infection Hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells Hematocrit, the proportion of red blood cells to the fluid component, or plasma, in your blood Platelets, which help with blood clotting Abnormal increases or decreases in cell counts as revealed in a complete blood count may indicate that you have an underlying medical condition that calls for further evaluation.

4. Carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, and carbon dioxide back to the lungs. Low = Anemia High = Polycythemia Clinical Presentation would look like…. Red Blood Cells

5. A hemoglobin test measures the amount of hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen to your body's organs and tissues and transports carbon dioxide from your organs and tissues back to your lungs. If a hemoglobin test reveals that your hemoglobin level is lower than normal, it means you have a low red blood cell count (anemia). Anemia can have many different causes, including vitamin deficiencies, bleeding and chronic diseases. Hemoglobin

6. MCV- mean corpuscular volume MCH- mean corpuscular hemoglobin MCHC- mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration Help diagnose specific types of anemia Red Blood Cell Indices

7. White blood cells help fight infections. They are also called leukocytes. There are five major types of white blood cells which give more detailed information about an infection. Basophils Eosinophils Lymphocytes (T cells and B cells) Monocytes Neutrophils Clinical presentation would look like…. White Blood Cells (WBC)

8. Hematocrit is a blood test that measures the percentage of the volume of whole blood that is made up of red blood cells. This measurement depends on the number of red blood cells and the size of red blood cells . Normal results vary, but in general are as follows: Male: 40.7 - 50.3% Female: 36.1 - 44.3 % Clinical presentation would look like… Hematocrit (HCT)

9. A platelet count is a test to measure how many platelets you have in your blood. Platelets help the blood clot. They are smaller than red or white blood cells . Normal Results 150,000 - 400,000 platelets per microliter ( mcL ). A lower-than-normal number of platelets is called thrombocytopenia, and is seen in: Cancer chemotherapy Certain medications Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) Hemolytic anemia Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) Leukemia Platelets