Learn more about the complete blood count test

The article is professionally consulted by:
Master, Doctor Pham Thi Thuy Nhung - Head of Laboratory Department - Laboratory Department - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital
Master, Doctor Do Thi Hoang Ha - Doctor Doctor of Biochemistry - Laboratory Department - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital

A complete blood count is a routine blood test used to evaluate overall health and detect a wide range of disorders, including infections, anemia and leukemia.
A complete blood count is an important test that provides information about:
Number of red blood cells in a volume of blood Number of white blood cells in a volume of blood Amount of hemoglobin in a volume of blood Hematocrit, volume ratio red blood cells/whole blood volume Platelet count in a volume of blood An abnormal increase or decrease in the number of cell components in a complete blood count indicates that you have a medical condition that requires attention and further analysis.

A complete blood count is a routine test done in many cases:
To assess overall health: Your doctor may order a complete blood count as part of a medical examination health regularly monitor general health. To diagnose the disease: Your doctor may order a complete blood count if you feel fatigue, fever, inflammation, bruising or bleeding,... a complete blood count can help your doctor diagnose the cause. cause of the above signs and symptoms. If your doctor suspects an infection, a complete blood count can also help confirm the diagnosis. To monitor a medical condition: If you have been diagnosed with certain medical conditions that affect blood cell counts, such as anemia, leukemia, or polycythemia vera,... doctor The doctor may use a complete blood count to monitor the condition and progression of the disease. To monitor treatment: A complete blood count is used to monitor your health if you are taking medications that can affect blood cell counts.

If your blood sample is only for a complete blood count, you can eat and drink normally before the test. If the blood sample is used for other tests such as biochemistry or immunology, you will need to fast for a certain amount of time before the test (usually more than 8 hours). Your doctor will give you specific instructions.

For a complete blood count, the responsible healthcare professional will draw about 2ml of blood from a vein in the arm, usually at the elbow crease. Blood samples are anticoagulated and sent to a laboratory for analysis. In the past, blood counts were performed using hand-counting instruments, but now, thanks to automatic counters, blood counts are much simpler to perform. You can return to normal activities immediately after the blood is drawn.

The following are normal CBC results for adults:
Red blood cells :
Male: 4.2 - 5.4 T/l Female: 4.0 - 4.9 T/l Hemoglobin:
Male: 130 - 160 g/l Female : 125 - 142 g/l Hematocrit:
Male: 0.42 - 0.47 L/L Female: 0.37 - 0.42 L/L WBC : 4.0 - 10.0 G/l
Platelets : 150 - 450 G/l
Abnormal results :
Red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit are lower than normal in the state of
anemia. Anemia causes fatigue and weakness. Anemia has many causes, including: blood loss, hemolysis, malnutrition, or disease of the bone marrow.
Higher-than-normal red blood cells (erythrocytosis), high hemoglobin or hematocrit in conditions of blood concentrates, polycythemia vera, or heart disease.
Low white blood cell count (leukopenia) is seen in many medical conditions,
such as an autoimmune disorder that destroys white blood cells, bone marrow problems or cancer. Certain medications can also cause low white blood cell counts. If the white blood cell count is higher than normal, an infection or inflammation may be present. Or, it could indicate an immune system disorder or bone marrow disease.
Elevated white blood cells can also be a reaction to medication. A platelet count that is lower than normal (thrombocytopenia) or higher than normal is usually a sign of a medical condition, or it can be a side effect of medication. If the platelet count is outside the normal range, further tests may be needed to diagnose the cause.
Abnormal results in the complete blood count test reflect many medical conditions of the body, so it is important to talk to your doctor so that you can get the necessary advice. In many cases, your doctor may refer you to a hematologist, who has extensive experience in blood-related diseases, for further advice.
Vinmec International General Hospital Laboratory Department includes a full range of specialized fields: Biochemistry, Hematology - Blood Transfusion, Microbiology - Parasitology and Pathology with a team of qualified medical professionals, experienced to bring the most accurate diagnosis.
All tests are operated according to the standard testing procedures of the Ministry of Health, strict quality control.
Sampling, safe transport of test samples Ensure test quality Return results as soon as possible, actively support doctors for effective treatment Current semi-automatic combined automated testing equipment Modern and synchronous technology of famous and reputable firms in the field of testing in the world such as Beckman Coulter (USA), Roche (Switzerland):
Modern pneumatic system for transporting specimens and returning results by compressed air of Beckman - Coulter company (USA) avoids contamination, confusion of patient samples, and at the same time avoids the impact of the environment on patient samples, giving accurate test results with fast result return time. VITEK2 COMPACT Biormerieux automatic identification and antibiotic system for performing microbiological tests is a system of equipment being used at leading hospitals in Hanoi and Hai Phong. Pathology: The first automatic in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry staining machine BenchMark XT in Hai Phong identifies the origin and classifies different cancers to help accurately diagnose cancers.