CBC blood test

CBC blood test

A CBC blood test, short for complete blood count, is a common lab test that measures the main cells in your blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It also reports related values like hemoglobin and hematocrit, which tell you how well your blood carries oxygen and how concentrated your blood cells are. Doctors order a CBC when they want a quick snapshot of your overall health or when you have symptoms like fatigue, infection, bruising, or unexplained bleeding. High or low counts can point to many different issues, such as infections, anemia, dehydration, bone marrow problems, or blood-clotting disorders. Results are given as numbers and ranges; a single result outside the normal range doesn’t always mean serious disease, but it does prompt follow-up tests or repeat measurements. Because it is fast, inexpensive, and widely available, a CBC is often a first step in finding what might be causing symptoms or monitoring the effect of treatments. Pediatric and elderly patients may have different normal ranges, so doctors interpret results in the context of age, sex, medical history, and other tests. If a CBC is abnormal, your clinician may order more specific tests to find the cause and guide treatment. Regular CBCs can also track chronic conditions or side effects from medications, helping adjust care before complications develop. Overall, the CBC is a practical tool for spotting many common health problems early and guiding next steps in medical care.