CBC
(COMPLETE BLOOD
COUNT)
Prepared by :dmsArgel ,RN
Complete blood count
▪ also known as a full blood count, is a set of medical laboratory tests that provide information about the
cells in a person's blood.
▪ the CBC indicates the counts of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, the concentration of
hemoglobin, and the hematocrit.
▪ used to look at overall health and find a wide range of conditions, including anemia, infection and
leukemia.
▪ measures the following:
Red blood cells, which carry oxygen
White blood cells, which fight infection
Hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells
Hematocrit, the amount of red blood cells in the blood
Platelets, which help blood to clot
▪ A complete blood count can show unusual increases or decreases in cell counts. Those changes might
point to a medical condition that calls for more testing.
PURPOSE
1. To look at overall health. A complete blood count can be part of a medical exam to check general
health and to look for conditions, such as anemia or leukemia.
2. To diagnose a medical condition. A complete blood count can help find the cause of symptoms
such as weakness, fatigue and fever. It also can help find the cause of swelling and pain, bruising,
or bleeding.
3. To check on a medical condition. A complete blood count can help keep an eye on conditions that
affect blood cell counts.
4. To check on medical treatment. A complete blood count may be used to keep an eye on treatment
with medicines that affect blood cell counts and radiation.To look at overall health. A complete
blood count can be part of a medical exam to check general health and to look for conditions, such
as anemia or leukemia.
5. To diagnose a medical condition. A complete blood count can help find the cause of symptoms
such as weakness, fatigue and fever. It also can help find the cause of swelling and pain, bruising,
or bleeding.
6. To check on a medical condition. A complete blood count can help keep an eye on conditions that
affect blood cell counts.
7. To check on medical treatment. A complete blood count may be used to keep an eye on treatment
with medicines that affect blood cell counts and radiation.
Patient Preparation
• Usually there is no special preparation necessary for a complete blood count.
• But if the provider ordered other tests on patient blood sample, may need to fast (not eat or drink)
for several hours before the test.
• The provider will let inform if there are any special instructions to follow.
• The best time to take the blood sample, preferably between 7:00 and 10:00am
Procedure in taking blood sample
a. Identify and explain the procedure and purpose to the patient
b. Cleans patient skin with an antiseptic wipe
c. Places an elastic band, or tourniquet, around your upper arm
to help the vein swell with blood
d. Inserts a needle in the vein and collects a blood sample
e. Remove the elastic band
f. Cover the area with a bandage to stop any bleeding
g. Place blood sample in the purple tab tube
h. Label your sample and send it to a lab for analysis
COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT
Results
A CBC reveals
1. Information about general health.
2. Number of red blood cells (RBC).
3. Number of white blood cells (WBC
4. Total amount of hemoglobin in the blood
(Hgb).
5. Fraction of blood composed of red blood cells
(Hct).
6. Volume of Hgb in each RBC (MCV [mean
corpuscular volume]).
7. Weight of the Hgb in each RBC (MCH [mean
corpuscular hemoglobin]).
8. Proportion of Hgb contained in each RBC
(MCHC [mean
9. corpuscular hemoglobin concentration]).
10. Number of platelets, which are critical to clot
formation
11. MCV, MCH, and MCHC values are useful in
the diagnosis of various types of anemia
