Skip to main content
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 27 December 2016

You have the Complete Blood Test in front of you and don’t now what the results mean. Dr. Shital Raval explains it in simple terms in our Health by Numbers/Medical Tests series.

A CBC or complete blood test is a basic blood test which is often carried out along with a physical examination to verify and analyse various cellular components in the blood. This allows the doctor to check and confirm any suspicions and find any potential health problems.

CBC test result alone may not be sufficient to diagnose certain or all health problems but is the first step in screening and early diagnosis. Since results from different laboratories may vary slightly, these values are not absolute. It would be best to discuss any abnormality in your blood test with your doctor.

Irregularities in the blood test may also be due to factors such as diet, obesity, physical activity, alcohol intake, menstrual cycle, certain medications etc.

Here is a brief explanation of the important blood panels to look out for in your CBC and what they mean:

RBC count: The number of RBCs in the blood may indicate their lifespan and general health. However any irregularities would need further testing and investigation.

WBC count: Since white blood cells are the important part of our immune system and help fight infection, a high count would indicate presence of an infection, inflammation, anaemia, autoimmune diseases or even leukaemia. A low count could be caused by certain medications or health problems.

Normal range of WBC differential count:

Neutrophils 40% to 60% of the total
Lymphocytes 20% to 40%
Monocytes 2% to 8%
Eosinophils  1% to 4%
Basophils 0.5% to 1%

Platelet count: Platelets are cells that are involved in clotting of blood. A low platelet count or thrombocytopenia may indicate a higher risk of bleeding as not enough platelets are being produced or are getting destroyed. Common causes for this include infections like Malaria or Dengue, cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation, certain medications, autoimmune disorders which attack the platelets. A high platelet count called Thrombocytosis means there is an over-production of platelet cells. This may be due to Haemolytic anaemia, iron-deficiency anaemia, cancer, certain medications, bone marrow diseases, thrombocythemia (excess platelet production from bone marrow), recent surgery such as spleen removal, certain infections or allergic reactions. Formation of blood clots is a serious side-effect of high plate count too!

Haemoglobin: Red blood cells contain haemoglobin which is responsible for delivering oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and carbon dioxide back to the lungs. A low count may be a sign of anaemia. Normal range does vary in both genders.

Hematocrit: Hematocrit helps identify anaemia as it is a measure of the total volume of RBCs in blood. Normal range does vary in both genders.

Cholesterol: Cholesterol is the fatty substance or lipid made by cells in the body, especially by the liver. When low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) carry the cholesterol in the blood, it is called “bad cholesterol”. High levels of LDL indicate a higher risk of heart disease. When cholesterol is carried by High density lipoproteins (HDLs), it is referred to as “good cholesterol” and high levels of HDL may help prevent cardiovascular disease. Its also important to look at the cholesterol ratio : Total cholesterol divided by HDL. According to American Heart Association, it is important to keep it under 5 with 3.5 being ideal. 

Test Normal Range
Red blood cell (varies with altitude) Male: 5 to 6 million cells/mcL
Female: 4 to 5 million cells/mcL
White blood cell 4,500 to 10,000 cells/mcL
Platelets 140,000 to 450,000 cells/mcL
Haemoglobin (varies with altitude) Male: 14 to 17 gm/dL
Female: 12 to 15 gm/dL
Hematocrit (varies with altitude) Male: 41% to 50%
Female: 36% to 44%
Total cholesterol 200 to 240mg/dl
LDL 100 to 190 mg/dl
HDL 40 to 60 mg/dl
   

Stories

  • धूम्रपान छोड़ने के बाद मेरे सांस लेने में और सो पाने में सुधार हुआ है
    रमेश कोप्पिकर 35 वर्षों से भारी धूम्रपान करने वाले व्यक्ति थे और उन्होंने धूम्रपान छोड़ने के कई असफल प्रयास किए थे। आखिरकार उन्हें जब दिल का दौरा पड़ा तो उन्हें निकोटीन की लत और धूम्रपान की आदत से हमेशा के लिए छुटकारा पाने का हौसला मिला। पढ़िए उनके द्वारा शेयर की हुई उनकी कहानी। मैंने सिगरेट पीना 23 साल की उम्र में शुरू करा था- उन दिनों मैं बीएचयू वाराणसी में इंजीनियरिंग की पढ़ाई कर रहा था । मैं कैंपस के हॉस्टल में रह रहा था और मैं और मेरे दोस्त रात के खाने के बाद टहलने जाया करते थे। बीएचयू का…
  • रक्त दान गाइडलाइन्स
    हम सब रक्त से जुड़े हुए हैं  क्या आप रक्त दान कर सकते हैं? रक्त दान के लिए क्या तैयारी करनी चाहिये? रक्त दान करने के बाद किस तरह की देखभाल की जरूरत है? इन सब सवालों के जवाब, एक जगह।  रक्त दान के लिए योग्यता/ रक्त दान कौन कर सकता है • कोई भी स्वस्थ व्यक्ति जो फिट है और जिसे कोई संक्रामक रोग नहीं है, वह रक्त दान कर सकता है। • रक्त दाता की उम्र 18 और 60 के बीच होनी चाहिए और वजन कम से कम  50 किलो होना चाहिए। कुछ ब्लड बैंक  वजन 45 किलो से अधिक हो तब भी रक्त दान की अनुमति देते हैं…
  • A family with three generations sitting around a dining table
    बुजुर्गों के लिए भोजन में संशोधन
    जब आपके प्रियजनों की उम्र बढ़ती है, तो उनके लिए सही आहार का प्रबंध करना अधिक ज़रूरी हो जाता है, क्योंकि अधिकाँश केस में अनुचित भोजन लेना अधिक तनाव और परेशानी का कारण बनता है। इस लेख में डॉ। भुवनेश्वरी अपने माता-पिता की प्राथमिक देखभालकर्ता होने के अनुभवों के आधार पर कुछ सरल सुझाव दे रही हैं। बुजुर्गों के आहार पर ध्यान देना बहुत जरूरी है क्योंकि आहार के पैटर्न को बदलने से कुछ ऐसी सामान्य समस्याओं में सुधार हो सकता है जो कई बुजुर्गों में पायी जाती हैं. हमें इस पहलू पर अपनी भारतीय सन्दर्भ (जैसे कि…
  • Collage of a heart and lung transplant recipient who had congenital hole in heart
    This Covid Situation Is Like Living The Transplant Life All Over Again
    Mili Vakilna, 22 is a hotel management student who underwent a very rare combined heart and double lung transplant at the tender age of 20. She recalls her challenges through school and the pre and post transplant period. Plus what helped her regulate emotions of depression and anxiety.   What were the onset symptoms for your trouble? When was it? I was born with a hole in my heart, which was corrected with a ventricular septal defect surgery (VSD) when I was 2 years old. It happens…
  • I Cannot Stop Living Due To Fear Of Death
    Dr. Vidisha Vallabh, 34 from Dehradun shares in great detail the challenges of living with Pulmonary Hypertension, dealing with the emotional challenges, the support of her family and how she has had to relook at her priorities and learn to accept her situation. Please tell us about your condition. What were the early symptoms? What made you go see a doctor? I have been diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension in the year 2019. Severe Fatigue, Fever, Anxiety, Mild Cough, Blue nail beds were the…
  • Pulmonary Hypertension Will Not Take Away My Dreams
    Roshni Chaudhari, 28 who was born with a congenital heart disease, has spent the last 20 years of her life coping with the challenges associated with Pulmonary Hypertension. She talks about her journey to acceptance and about her dreams. Please tell us a bit about your condition  I have Congenital Heart Disease – a Ventricular Septal Defect, that is unoperated. Because of this I also have secondary Pulmonary Hypertension (PH), i.e. a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in…
  • Patient Centred Tips For Cardiac Rehabilitation
    Dr Kalyani Nityanandan, 85-year-old Chennai based cardiologist, who pioneered the first cardiac rehabilitation facility in Tamil Nadu, shares her vast knowledge on recovery and staying well after cardiac arrest. Let me begin with a real life case. A middle-aged man has a sudden cardiac arrest. With competent care and some luck, he is saved. He is discharged from the hospital with his heart and arteries in reasonably good shape. The doctors advise cardiac rehabilitation, along with a flood of…
  • The author Dr Kalyani, a heart patient in a red sari and smiling
    कोरोना हो या कोरोनरी (हार्ट अटैक) - खुद को स्वस्थ बनाए रखें
    डॉ। कल्याणी नित्यानंदन, एक 85 वर्षीय कार्डियोलॉजिस्ट, अकेले रहती हैं। इस लेख में वे हमारे साथ साझा करती हैं कि कैसे कार्डियक इमरजेंसी के लिए खुद को तैयार करें और कोविड -19 लॉकडाउन के दौरान खुद को खुश और उत्साहित कैसे रखें। जब तक मेरी माँ वरिष्ठ नागरिक बनने की उम्र तक पहुँचीं, तब तक वे विधवा बन चुकी थीं और वे अपना कोई घर नहीं चला रही थीं। उनके दो बच्चे चेन्नई में ही थे और दो भारत में अन्य जगह थे। वे अपना समय उन के बीच विभाजित कर रही थीं। हर घर में उन्होंने अपने कुछ जोड़ी कपड़े छोड़े हुए थे, और साथ…
  • Staying Afloat During Corona or Coronary Crisis
    Dr Kalyani Nityanandan, 85-year-old cardiologist, who lives independently, shares with us some valuable tips on how to prepare yourself for cardiac emergency and keep spirits up during the Covid-19 lockdown. By the time my mother was a senior citizen she was a widow with no house to run of her own. Two of her children were local in Chennai and the other two were elsewhere in India. She split her time between them. At each house she left a change of clothes, a dinner plate and curved drinking…
  • Side effects and drug interactions of Common Heart Medications - Beta Blockers, Lipid Meds, Diuretics and others
    In the second part of this article on side effects and drug interactions of common heart medications, we cover beta blockers, lipid medications, diuretics, calcium channel blockers and cardiac glycosides. Your doctor can tell you which medications or combination of are best suited for you. The first part is here.  Remember this is not a complete list and if you are taking or planning to take any prescription, dietary, herbal or natural supplements, please consult your Cardiologist or…