Which of the following is not generally included in the complete blood count (cbc)

Search Encyclopedia

Take the Blood Count Quiz

The last time you visited your healthcare provider for an illness, they might have ordered a CBC test to help figure out the diagnosis. CBC stands for complete blood count, but what does that mean? And what do all those numbers on the result sheet mean? Find out by taking this quiz, based on information from the National Institutes of Health.

1. Which blood cells and blood elements are included in a CBC test?

A. Red blood cells (erythrocytes)B. White blood cellsC. PlateletsD. All of the above

2. What do white blood cells do?

A. Carry oxygen from the lungsB. Carry waste products from the cellsC. Fight infectionD. Help stop bleeding by forming clotsE. All of the above

3. What do red blood cells do?

A. Carry oxygen from the lungsB. Carry carbon dioxide, a waste product, from the cellsC. Fight infectionD. Help stop bleeding by forming clotsE. All of the aboveF. A and B

4. What do platelets do?

A. Carry oxygen from the lungsB. Carry waste products from the cellsC. Fight infectionD. Help stop bleeding by initiating clotsE. All of the above

5. What is hematocrit?

A. A sometimes fatal blood diseaseB. The portion of red blood cells compared with total blood volumeC. A blood pressure measuring deviceD. A medicine that helps stop bleeding

6. What are neutrophils?

A. Immature red blood cellsB. A type of white blood cellC. A type of plateletD. A type of bacteria

7. What is severe neutropenia?

A. An absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of less than 500B. An ANC of less than 1,000C. An ANC of less than 50D. An ANC of less than 25

8. Which is a symptom of not having enough red blood cells or hemoglobin (a condition called anemia)?

A. ItchingB. NauseaC. FeverD. Fatigue

9. What is the name of the condition that results when a person does not have enough platelets?

A. ThrombocytopeniaB. ThromboangiitisC. ThrombocythemiaD. Thrombopathia

Medical Reviewers:

  • LoCicero, Richard, MD
  • Sather, Rita, RN

Definition

A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:

  • The number of red blood cells (RBC count)
  • The number of white blood cells (WBC count)
  • The total amount of hemoglobin in the blood
  • The fraction of the blood composed of red blood cells (hematocrit)

The CBC test also provides information about the following measurements:

  • Average red blood cell size (MCV)
  • Hemoglobin amount per red blood cell (MCH)
  • The amount of hemoglobin relative to the size of the cell (hemoglobin concentration) per red blood cell (MCHC)

The platelet count is also most often included in the CBC.

Alternative Names

Complete blood count; Anemia - CBC

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

How to Prepare for the Test

There is no special preparation needed.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, you may feel moderate pain. Some people feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

A CBC is a commonly performed lab test. It can be used to detect or monitor many different health conditions. Your health care provider may order this test:

  • As part of a routine check-up
  • If you are having symptoms, such as fatigue, weight loss, fever or other signs of an infection, weakness, bruising, bleeding, or any signs of cancer
  • When you are receiving treatments (medicines or radiation) that may change your blood count results
  • To monitor a long-term (chronic) health problem that may change your blood count results, such as chronic kidney disease

Normal Results

Blood counts may vary with altitude. In general, normal results are:

RBC count:

  • Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/mcL
  • Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL

WBC count:

  • 4,500 to 10,000 cells/mcL

Hematocrit:

  • Male: 40.7% to 50.3%
  • Female: 36.1% to 44.3%

Hemoglobin:

  • Male: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dL
  • Female: 12.1 to 15.1 gm/dL

Red blood cell indices:

  • MCV: 80 to 95 femtoliter
  • MCH: 27 to 31 pg/cell
  • MCHC: 32 to 36 gm/dL

Platelet count:

  • 150,000 to 450,000/dL

The examples above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

High RBC, hemoglobin, or hematocrit may be due to:

  • A lack of enough water and fluids, such as from severe diarrhea, excessive sweating, or water pills used to treat high blood pressure
  • Kidney disease with high erythropoietin production
  • Low oxygen level in the blood for a long time, most often due to heart or lung disease
  • Polycythemia vera
  • Smoking

Low RBC, hemoglobin, or hematocrit is a sign of anemia, which can result from:

  • Blood loss (either sudden, or from problems such as heavy menstrual periods over a long time)
  • Bone marrow failure (for example, from radiation, infection, or tumor)
  • Breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis)
  • Cancer and cancer treatment
  • Certain long-term (chronic) medical conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, ulcerative colitis, or rheumatoid arthritis
  • Leukemia
  • Long-term infections such as hepatitis
  • Poor diet and nutrition, causing too little iron, folate, vitamin B12, or vitamin B6
  • Multiple myeloma

A lower than normal white blood cell count is called leukopenia. A decreased WBC count may be due to:

  • Alcohol abuse and liver damage
  • Autoimmune diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus)
  • Bone marrow failure (for example, due to infection, tumor, radiation, or fibrosis)
  • Chemotherapy medicines used to treat cancer
  • Disease of the liver or spleen
  • Enlarged spleen
  • Infections caused by viruses, such as mono or AIDS
  • Medicines

A high WBC count is called leukocytosis. It can result from:

  • Certain medicines, such as corticosteroids
  • Infections
  • Diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or allergy
  • Leukemia
  • Severe emotional or physical stress
  • Tissue damage (such as from burns or a heart attack)

A high platelet count may be due to:

  • Bleeding
  • Diseases such as cancer
  • Iron deficiency
  • Problems with the bone marrow

A low platelet count may be due to:

  • Disorders where platelets are destroyed
  • Pregnancy
  • Enlarged spleen
  • Bone marrow failure (for example, due to infection, tumor, radiation, or fibrosis)
  • Chemotherapy medicines used to treat cancer

Risks

There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another, and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:

  • Excessive bleeding
  • Fainting or feeling lightheaded
  • Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
  • Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

Considerations

RBCs transport hemoglobin which, in turn, carries oxygen. The amount of oxygen received by body tissues depends on the amount and function of RBCs and hemoglobin.

WBCs are mediators of inflammation and the immune response. There are various types of WBCs that normally appear in the blood:

  • Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes)
  • Band cells (slightly immature neutrophils)
  • T-type lymphocytes (T cells)
  • B-type lymphocytes (B cells)
  • Monocytes
  • Eosinophils
  • Basophils

References

Bunn HF. Approach to the anemias. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 158.

Costa K. Hematology. In: The Johns Hopkins Hospital; Hughes HK, Kahl LK, eds. The Johns Hopkins Hospital: The Harriet Lane Handbook. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 14.

Vajpayee N, Graham SS, Bem S. Basic examination of blood and bone marrow. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 22nd ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2017:chap 30.

What is included in a CBC quizlet?

- Includes: Hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocytes count, RBC indices, leukocyte WBC, differential white cell count.

Which of the following would be included in a complete blood count?

A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following: The number of red blood cells ( RBC count ) The number of white blood cells ( WBC count ) The total amount of hemoglobin in the blood.

Which laboratory test is part of a CBC quizlet?

The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) test is a standard part of the complete blood count (CBC) that is done during blood analysis, and the MCHC value is used to evaluate the severity and cause of anemia.

Which of the following is not a function of the blood?

Answer and Explanation: Among the given options, the one which is not a function of blood is: A) Gather sensory information. Gathering sensory information is the function of nerve cells or neurons.