CBC Test (Complete Blood Count)

The CBC blood test price typically ranges between Rs 150 - Rs 400 across various cities in India.

The full form of CBC is Complete Blood Count. It's a standard blood test that assesses different parameters related to your blood cells.

The prime purpose of a CBC blood test is to evaluate your overall health by measuring various components of your blood such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Medications, medical conditions, recent meals, hydration status, and lifestyle factors like smoking can all affect CBC test results.

Yes, a CBC test during pregnancy is generally recommended to monitor both mother's and baby's health. It is, in fact, a regular part of your prenatal tests.

A CBC test can identify a wide range of disorders such as anaemia, infections, blood cancers, clotting problems, and immune system disorders.

While a CBC test cannot diagnose cancer directly, it can detect abnormalities in your blood that may indicate cancer or other diseases.

Abnormal results may indicate anaemia, infection, bleeding disorders, or leukaemia. Discuss the results with your doctor for further evaluation.

Before the CBC Test:

• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
• Wear comfortable clothing with sleeves that can be easily rolled up.
• Inform your healthcare provider about any medications you are taking that may affect blood test results.
• Follow the specific instructions of your healthcare provider.

Other tests that may be ordered alongside the CBC test include a blood smear, an erythropoietin test, and iron studies.

The CBC test is also known as CBC, Haemogram, Blood Cell Count or Full Blood Count.

CBC Test is done as a marker of general health, a basic investigation to suggest further line of testing or treatment. It is used to screen anaemia, determine type of anaemia and screen for Haemoglobinopathy. In cases of fever to know the extent and type of infection. In cases of fever to know the extent and type of infection. Presence of immature cells / blasts/ atypical cells in CBC can suggest leukemia/ lymphoma/ blood cancers and indicate further bone marrow studies/ Immunophenotyping of cells. Presence of increased or decreased platelet count can suggest urgent medical management / bone marrow study A CBC also measures, analyses, and studies several aspects of blood: • CBC without differential counts the total amount of WBCs. • CBC with differential. The differential counts the number of each type of WBC in our body. WBCs are classified into five types. • Hemoglobin tests measure hemoglobin levels, the oxygen-carrying protein in RBCs. • Hematocrit describes the concentration of RBCs in our blood.

CBC Test measures: • Red cell count - Total number of RBC in blood • Haemoglobin - Oxygen carrying capacity of blood • Haematocrit - Proportion of blood volume that consists of RBC • Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) - Average size of RBC • Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH) - Average Haemoglobin inside RBC • Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) - How concentrated Haemoglobin is within RBC • Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) - Variation in size of RBC • White blood cell count (TLC) - Number of leucocytes in blood • White Blood Cell Differential (DLC) - Relative number of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils • Platelet Count - The number of platelets (thrombocytes) in blood • Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) - Average volume of platelets • Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) - Variation in platelet size

CBC Test requires a blood sample. A tourniquet (elastic) band is placed tightly on the upper arm. The patient is then asked to make a fist. This helps in the build-up of blood filling the veins. The skin is disinfected before needle insertion and the blood sample is collected in vacutainer

This test requires a blood sample. A nurse or lab technician will draw a blood sample by inserting a needle into a vein in a person’s arm. After that, a person can return to a normal schedule. They will send the blood to a laboratory to be examined.

Abnormal RBC Count:

Low RBC count may be due to: Nutritional (Iron deficiency, Vitamin deficiency), chronic illness, blood loss, cancers of blood, bone marrow disorders, chemotherapy.

High RBC Count may be due to: dehydration, heart/Lung diseases, smoking, polycythaemia Vera, abnormal Haemoglobin and Haematocrit (PCV) usually mirrors RBC results

Low MCV indicates: Iron deficiency, thalassemia/Haemoglobinopthies

High MCV indicates: Vitamin B12 or Folate deficiency, liver disease, hypothyroidism

Abnormal MCH and MCHC results usually mirror MCV results

Low MCV and increased RBC count can suggest Thalassemia

Low RDW indicates uniformity in size of RBC; high RDW suggests: Iron deficiency anaemia, Pernicious anaemia

Abnormal Reticulocyte Count (RETIC):

Low RETIC count indicates: Bone marrow disorder, Nutritional deficiency

High RETIC count suggests: Bleeding, Haemolysis

Abnormal WBC count:

A low WBC count may suggest: Viral infection, Severe bacterial infection, Bone marrow disorders, Chemotherapy, Immunodeficiency, Auto immune disorders, Dietary deficiency, Reaction to drugs

A high WBC count suggests: Infection/inflammation, Allergies, Lymphoma, Leukaemia, Stress, Pregnancy, Corticosteroid treatment, Chronic infection

Abnormal platelet count-

Low platelet count may be in: Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), Leukaemia, Lymphoma, Viral infections like dengue, Bacterial infections, Auto immune diseases, Chemotherapy/radiation therapy, Medications, Enlarged spleen

High platelet count may be in: Polycythaemia Vera, Essential Thrombocythemia (ET), Bone marrow disorders, Splenectomy, Anaemia, Infection

Abnormal MPV:

A low MPV indicates: Bone marrow disorder

A high MPV suggests: Destruction of platelets and their rapid release from bone marrow into circulation

A low PDW suggests: Uniformity in size of platelets

A high PDW indicates: Vascular diseases, Thyroid cancers

NOTE:- A peripheral blood smear examination may be done in case of abnormal CBC result

CBC Test usually does not require any particular preparation. However, if the doctor has requested further tests on a blood sample, the pateint may be required to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours prior to the test

Aside from leukemia, most cancers cannot be discovered with routine blood tests like a CBC. However, the findings can help healthcare providers in diagnosing cancer or determining whether cancer has spread.

Normal Levels of CBC Test are:

• WBC: 4,500 - 1,000 cells per microliter (cells/mcL)
• RBC: 4.5 - 5.9 million cells/mcL for men; 4.1--5.1 million cells/mcL for women
• Hemoglobin levels: From 14 to 17.5 gram per deciliter (gm/dL) in men and 12.3 to 15.3 gm/dL in women.
• Hematocrit: From 41.5% to 50.4% in men and 35.9% to 44.6% in women.
• Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): 80--96
• Platelets: 150,000--450,000 platelets/mcL

High RBC and hemoglobin levels can be caused by:

• Dehydration.
• Heart or lung disease that reduces oxygen levels.
• Certain kinds of kidney diseases.
• Cigarette smoking.
• Polycythemia vera, a rare disease causing overproduction of RBCs.

Low RBC, hemoglobin, or hematocrit levels indicate anemia, which can be caused by:

• Blood loss.
• Bone marrow failure.
• Breakdown of RBCs (hemolysis).
• Cancer and cancer treatment.

Anaemia is a condition where there are not enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body's tissues, or the oxygen-carrying capacity of these cells is reduced. Symptoms may include fatigue, weakness, pale skin, and shortness of breath.

Anaemia can be caused by iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, chronic diseases, or genetic factors.