Blood Test (Complete Blood Count – CBC)

A Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most common blood tests. It measures different components of blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. This test helps diagnose conditions like anemia, infection, blood disorders, and overall health status.

Parameter Normal Range Abnormal Findings & Indications
Red Blood Cells (RBC) Men: 4.7 โ€“ 6.1 million/ยตL
Women: 4.2 โ€“ 5.4 million/ยตL
Low โ†’ Anemia, blood loss
High โ†’ Dehydration, lung/heart disease
Hemoglobin (Hb) Men: 13.8 โ€“ 17.2 g/dL
Women: 12.1 โ€“ 15.1 g/dL
Low โ†’ Anemia, nutritional deficiency
High โ†’ Lung disease, polycythemia
Hematocrit (HCT) Men: 40 โ€“ 52%
Women: 36 โ€“ 47%
Low โ†’ Anemia, blood loss
High โ†’ Dehydration, polycythemia
White Blood Cells (WBC) 4,000 โ€“ 11,000 /ยตL Low โ†’ Weak immunity, viral infection
High โ†’ Infection, inflammation, leukemia
Platelets 150,000 โ€“ 450,000 /ยตL Low โ†’ Bleeding disorders, dengue, bone marrow issues
High โ†’ Clotting risk, inflammation
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) 80 โ€“ 100 fL Low โ†’ Iron deficiency anemia
High โ†’ Vitamin B12/Folate deficiency
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) 27 โ€“ 32 pg Low โ†’ Microcytic anemia
High โ†’ Macrocytic anemia
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) 32 โ€“ 36 g/dL Low โ†’ Iron deficiency
High โ†’ Spherocytosis
Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) 11 โ€“ 15% High โ†’ Mixed anemia (iron + B12 deficiency)
Normal โ†’ Uniform RBC size

Why Doctors Prescribe Blood Test (CBC)

  • To detect anemia, infections, or blood disorders.
  • To monitor overall health during routine check-ups.
  • To track treatment response in medical conditions.
  • To evaluate symptoms like fatigue, fever, weakness, or bleeding.