A Complete Blood Count (CBC) test is a routine blood test that evaluates the blood for abnormalities. This helps physicians identify potential illnesses or diseases, check organ functionality, or if treatments are working. However, abnormal levels don’t always indicate a medical condition but could be the product of changes in water intake, diet, or medications.
At ARCpoint Labs of Atlanta-Buckhead, we do a CBC with Differential. This panel measures the following various aspects of your blood.
Red blood cells (RBCs) carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, so abnormalities could be a sign of anemia.
White blood cells (WBCs) fight infections. Atypical levels could reveal illness, blood cancer, or autoimmune disorders.
Platelets help with blood clotting. Abnormal levels could therefore indicate clotting or bleeding disorders.
Hemoglobin is the iron protein in red blood cells. Low levels could point to anemia or sickle cell disease.
Hematocrit measures the amount of space a red blood cell uses in the blood. Low levels can indicate anemia and high levels can signal dehydration.
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) measures the size of the red blood cells, which can indicate the presence of pernicious anemia——often caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) analyze the amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell and the amount relative to the cell’s size per red blood cell, respectively, which can reveal certain types of anemia.
Finally, Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) looks at the volume and size differences of the red blood cells to determine if there’s a condition such as anemia.
The key to your health lies in the secrets of your blood. Let ARCpoint Labs of Atlanta-Buckhead help you stay up to date and unlock your healthiest self.