Lab tests
Complete blood count (CBC) explainer
A complete blood count is one of the most commonly ordered blood tests, and it arrives as a column of abbreviations: Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, RDW, WBC, PLT. Add your report below to see each line named in full, with the value found and the range your laboratory printed beside it.
Explain your complete blood count (CBC)
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What you get
- Red cell, white cell and platelet results grouped so the report is easier to follow.
- Abbreviations such as MCV, MCHC and RDW written out and defined.
- A marker on each result your laboratory printed as high or low.
- Questions about the flagged lines to take to whoever ordered the test.
Lines you will usually see on a CBC
- Hemoglobin (Hb or HGB)The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen
- Hematocrit (HCT or PCV)The share of your blood volume made up of red cells
- MCV, MCH and MCHCThe average size of red cells and how much hemoglobin they hold
- RDWHow much the red cells vary in size
- White blood cell count (WBC) and its differentialNeutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils
- Platelet count (PLT)The cell fragments involved in clotting
What this tool cannot tell you
A CBC is read as a pattern, not one line at a time, and the same pattern can have several explanations. Ranges also vary with age, sex, pregnancy and altitude, and between laboratories. MedicDecode describes what each line measures and shows what your report marks as outside its own range. It does not say why a result is high or low for you.
Common questions
Why is a result flagged when it is only just outside the range?
Laboratories flag any value outside the printed range, however small the difference. Whether a small difference matters depends on your other results and your health, which is why it is worth asking rather than guessing.
What is the differential?
It is the breakdown of the white cell count into its five main types. Reports give it as percentages, as absolute counts, or both.
My report uses different units from ones I have seen elsewhere. Does that matter?
Yes. The same test can be reported in different units, so a number is only comparable with the range printed on the same report. The explanation uses your report's own units and range.
Words you may see on this report
Tap a word for its plain-English meaning, an example line and what it does not mean.
- Hematocrit
Hematocrit is the share of your blood volume made up of red blood cells, shown as a percentage or a fraction on a blood count.
- Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body; its level is a key part of a full blood count.
- Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes are white blood cells that help the body recognise and remember germs, especially viruses; they include B cells and T cells.
- MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)
MCV is the average size of your red blood cells; it helps doctors narrow down the possible reasons for anaemia.
- Neutrophils
Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell and are usually the first to respond to bacterial infections.
- Platelets
Platelets are tiny cell fragments in the blood that help it clot and stop bleeding; the count shows how many are in your sample.
- WBC (White Blood Cell Count)
WBC is the number of white blood cells in a sample of your blood; these cells are part of the immune system that fights infection.
- ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
ALT is an enzyme found mainly in the liver; when liver cells are irritated or damaged, more ALT leaks into the blood.
- AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
AST is an enzyme found in the liver, muscles, heart and other tissues; raised levels can signal stress or damage in one of these.
- Bilirubin
Bilirubin is a yellow substance made when old red blood cells break down; the liver processes it so it can leave the body.
- Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product from normal muscle activity that the kidneys filter out, so its blood level helps show how well the kidneys work.
- CRP (C-Reactive Protein)
CRP is a protein made by the liver that rises quickly when there is inflammation or infection in the body.
Medicines connected to this test
Their official labels mention this kind of test. Each is explained in plain English.
- Apixaban
A factor Xa inhibitor, a blood thinner medicine (anticoagulant)
- Aspirin
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and a platelet aggregation inhibitor
- Clopidogrel
A platelet inhibitor of the P2Y12 type (a thienopyridine). It is a blood thinner that keeps platelets from sticking together.
- Diclofenac Sodium
A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The FDA class is not listed on the label.
- Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
A progestin hormone. The label describes it as a derivative of progesterone. The FDA pharmacologic class is not listed.
- Naproxen
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which is a medicine that reduces pain, swelling, and inflammation
- Rivaroxaban
a factor Xa inhibitor, a type of blood thinner (anticoagulant)
- Warfarin Sodium
A blood thinner (anticoagulant) of the vitamin K antagonist type. The label says it acts by blocking vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.