Complete blood count (CBC): What does it measure?

What does a complete blood count measure?

- Anne / Minnesota

Answer

A complete blood count (CBC) is a common blood test used to evaluate your overall health and detect a wide range of disorders, including anemia, infection and leukemia. The complete blood count test measures several components 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 plasma in the blood
• Platelets, which help with blood clotting

A complete blood count may be done as part of a routine medical examination. Abnormal increases or decreases in cell counts may indicate an underlying medical condition that warrants further evaluation.

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