Basic Blood Tests (CBC)

The Complete Blood Count is commonly known as CBC is one of the most regularly performed tests.

CBC tests are regular tests used to assess the blood and general health of a person. Blood acts as a means for supplying

oxygen and other nurturing agents all through the body and draws squander back to the excretory systems for elimination. In this laboratory testblood is attained from the patient's veins by veni puncture or by finger prick. A Complete Blood Count measures all the following parameters:

Red blood cell count (RBC)
White blood cell count (WBC)
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
Three red cell indices
White cell differential
Platelet counts

The Red blood cell (RBC) count is the amount of RBC’s in a cubic millimeter of blood. The RBC’s are the cells formed in the bone marrow that act as a hauler of oxygen to the various tissues of the body.

The normal range of RBC count is 4.5- 5.9 million/mm cube for males and 4.0-5.3 million/mm cube for females. A person with a considerably low RBC count can have symptoms of exhaustion and breathlessness. A reduction in the RBC count consequences in diminishing the hemoglobin and hematocrit values in the blood.

The White blood cell (WBC) count is the amount of WBC’s present per cubic millimeter of blood. The WBC’s averts and fight invaders. A variety of specific types of WBC’s are considered in the white cell differential method.

Normal WBC count ranges from 4,500 to 11,000/mm cube. The WBC count can be reduced by medications, stress, reduced production of WBC’s in the bone marrow and minor viral infective conditions.

Oxygen is passed to the tissues by hemoglobin in the Red Blood Cells. A normal hemoglobin level is 14.0-18.0 g/dl for males and 12.0-16.0 g/dl for females. Any drug that reasons a repression of the bone marrow will reduce the hemoglobin level. Deficiency of hemoglobin leads to anemia. Hematocrit is the % of the cellular mechanism in the blood to the fluid or blood plasma. S tandard values for males are 40 to 54% and for females are between 37 to 47%. A reduction in hematocrit value is always seen with a reduction of the hemoglobin.

The mean cell volume or MCV is the most essential of the RBC indices. It is a quantification of the average size of the Red Blood Cells. Deficiency of Vitamin B 12 or cyncobalamine and Folic Acid leads to increases in MCV. Standard MCV levels are between 80 to 96. Platelets are cellular fragments necessary for blood clotting. Standard platelet values ranges from 1.5 lakh to 3.5 lakh.

The white cell differential count differentiates hundred white cells at a time and distinguish them by there type. The 3 main types are:

Polymorphonuclear cells (or PMN’s)
Lymphocytes
Monocytes.

Normal value of PMN’s is about 55 to 80%. 25 to 33 % is the customary amount of lymphocytes and 3 to 7% is normal for monocytes.

Cholesterol levels are very important indices for deciding the heart condition. Standard cholesterol levels are 150 to 250 mg/dl.

Two tests that measure kidney function are the Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. Normal Blood Urea Nitrogen levels are 10 to 20 mg/dl. Normal levels of creatinine are 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dl. Test results are typically interpreted based on their relation to a suggested range.