Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test

Reasons for Undergoing the CBC Test?

A doctor may recommend a CBC test for various reasons. These include:

• Routine Health Check-up: Often included in regular medical exams for a general health assessment
• Diagnose Medical Conditions: If you're experiencing fatigue, inflammation, fever, or bleeding, a CBC test can help determine the cause.
• Monitor Medical Conditions: If diagnosed with a condition affecting blood cells like anaemia or leukaemia, frequent CBC tests monitor your condition.
• Monitor Medical Treatment: It helps assess the effectiveness of treatment like chemotherapy.

List of Parameters Considered During the CBC Test

The Complete Blood Count test analyses several components of your blood:

• White Blood Cells (WBCs): These fight infections and diseases; their count indicates your body’s immune response.
• Red Blood Cells (RBCs): They transport oxygen, and their count can detect conditions like anaemia, dehydration, or heart disease.
• Haemoglobin: This protein carries oxygen in RBCs. Its levels can indicate conditions like anaemia, lung diseases, or kidney diseases.
• Haematocrit: The ratio of the volume of RBCs to the total blood volume; its value is crucial in determining conditions like anaemia or polycythemia.
• Platelets: Essential for blood clotting and wound healing; their count can reveal bleeding disorders or thrombocytopenia.

What Symptoms May Call for A CBC Test? 

Certain symptoms can indicate underlying health issues that a CBC test can help diagnose. If you experience any of the following, your doctor may recommend a complete blood count test: 

• Fatigue: If you feel persistently tired and weak, it could be a sign of anaemia or other blood disorders that a CBC test can detect. 

• Fever: A high temperature may indicate an infection, which often affects white blood cell levels measured in a CBC. 

• Weight loss: Unexplained weight loss can be a symptom of various health issues, some of which affect blood cell counts. 

• Bruising or bleeding: If you bruise easily or experience excessive bleeding, it may suggest a problem with your platelets, which a CBC test can identify. 

• Pale skin: Pallor can be a sign of anaemia, a condition where you have a low red blood cell count or haemoglobin level. 

It's important to note that a CBC test is also part of routine health checkups, even in the absence of symptoms. Regular monitoring can help detect potential health issues early on. 

Why Would A Doctor Recommend the CBC Test? 

Your doctor may recommend a CBC test for several reasons: 

• Routine health checkups: CBC tests are often part of annual physical checkups to monitor your overall health and detect any early signs of disease. 

• Diagnosis of symptoms: If you're experiencing symptoms like fatigue, frequent infections, or unexplained weight loss, a CBC can help investigate the underlying cause. 

• Monitoring existing conditions: If you have a known health condition, such as anaemia or a blood disorder, regular CBC tests can help track your progress and guide treatment decisions. 

• Assessing treatment effects: If you're undergoing treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, CBC tests can monitor how your blood cell counts are responding. 

• Pre-surgical evaluation: Before a scheduled surgery, a CBC test may be ordered to ensure your blood counts are within a safe range. 

The versatility and non-invasive nature of the CBC test make it an essential tool in both diagnosing and managing a wide spectrum of health conditions. 

Importance of CBC Test 

The CBC test is important due to the following reasons: 

• Early detection: CBC tests can detect a wide range of disorders in their early stages, including anaemia, infections, and blood cancers, allowing for timely intervention. 

• Health monitoring: Regular CBC tests help monitor chronic conditions and the effects of medications or treatments on your blood cells. 

• Treatment guidance: CBC results help doctors tailor treatments and monitor progress for conditions like leukaemia and immune disorders. 

• Diagnosing underlying causes: Abnormal CBC values can point to the root cause of symptoms, such as fatigue (anaemia), recurrent infections (low white blood cells), or bleeding disorders (low platelets). 

• Routine and preventive care: Incorporating CBC tests into annual checkups helps maintain overall health and catch potential problems before they worsen. 

Procedure of the CBC Test 

The procedure for a CBC test is straightforward and minimally invasive: 

• A phlebotomist will draw a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm using a needle and collection tube. 

• No special preparation is usually needed before the test. You can eat and drink normally unless instructed otherwise. 

• You may feel a quick prick or sting when the needle is inserted. Some people experience mild throbbing or bruising afterwards, which resolves quickly. 

• The blood sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis, where advanced machines count and examine the various blood cells. 

• The results are compiled into a CBC test report, which is sent back to your doctor for interpretation. 

The entire procedure typically takes just a few minutes, and you can usually resume your normal activities immediately afterwards.  

How to prepare for a CBC test?

The good news is that a CBC test requires no special preparation. You can eat and drink normally before the test, and you don't need to fast. However, it's important to inform your healthcare provider about any medications or supplements you're taking, as some may affect your CBC count results. Certain drugs, such as steroids and chemotherapy medications, can impact your blood cell levels.

What can I expect during a CBC test?

A CBC haemogram is a simple, quick procedure. A healthcare professional, usually a phlebotomist or nurse, will draw a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm using a needle. You may feel a slight pinch or sting when the needle is inserted, but the discomfort is usually minimal and brief. The entire process typically takes less than five minutes.

What can I expect after a CBC test?

After your blood sample is collected, you can go about your day as usual. You may have some slight bruising, redness, or soreness at the needle site, but this should resolve within a day or two. Your blood sample will be sent to a laboratory for analysis, and your healthcare provider will receive the results within a few days. They will then discuss your CBC test results with you and determine if any further action is needed.

Conditions That May Affect CBC Test Accuracy 

While the CBC test is generally reliable, certain factors can influence the accuracy of the results: 

• Recent blood transfusions can temporarily alter your blood cell counts, so it's important to inform your doctor if you've had a transfusion recently. 

• Pregnancy can cause normal changes in blood volume and composition, which may affect CBC results. 

• Extreme dehydration can concentrate your blood, leading to artificially elevated blood cell counts. 

• Certain medications, such as steroids or chemotherapy medicines, can impact blood cell production and affect test results. 

To ensure the most accurate results, it's crucial to share any relevant medical history or medications with your doctor before the test.  

CBC Test Interpretation 

Interpreting a CBC test report involves comparing your blood cell counts to established reference ranges. These ranges can vary slightly between laboratories, but they generally represent the values found in healthy individuals of your age and sex. If any of your results fall outside the normal range, your doctor will consider potential causes and may recommend additional testing to pinpoint the underlying issue.  

What Your CBC Test Results May Indicate 

Your CBC test report provides a detailed breakdown of your blood cell counts and characteristics. 

A high CBC test result may indicate the following: 

• Infection 

• Inflammation 

• Dehydration 

• Polycythemia (high red blood cell count) 

• Leukemia or other blood cancers 

A low CBC test result may indicate the following: 

• Anemia (low red blood cell count) 

• Leukopenia (low white blood cell count) 

• Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) 

• Nutritional deficiencies (iron, vitamin B12, folate) 

• Bone marrow disorders

It's important to remember that abnormal CBC results don't always indicate a serious problem. Your doctor will interpret your results in the context of your overall health and any symptoms you may be experiencing. 

What do abnormal CBC results mean?

Abnormal CBC blood test results can indicate a variety of health issues, depending on which blood component is affected and whether the count is high or low. Some common abnormalities include:

• Anaemia: Low red blood cell count, haemoglobin, or haematocrit may signal anaemia, a condition in which your body lacks sufficient healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues. There are many types of anaemia, each with different causes, such as iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, or chronic diseases.
• Infection: Elevated white blood cell counts often indicate that your body is fighting an infection, such as a bacterial or viral illness. Specific white blood cell types, like neutrophils or lymphocytes, may also be increased in certain infections.
• Inflammation: Chronic inflammation from conditions like autoimmune disorders or certain cancers can cause increased white blood cell levels.
• Bleeding disorders: Low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) can cause easy bruising and bleeding. This may be due to various factors, including autoimmune diseases, medications, or bone marrow disorders.
• Blood cancers: Abnormally high or low blood cell counts can sometimes indicate blood cancers, such as leukaemia or lymphoma.

What should you do if your CBC results are abnormal?

If your CBC blood test shows abnormal results, consult your healthcare provider promptly. They may suggest follow-up tests like a repeat CBC, blood smear, or nutrient studies to identify the cause and guide proper diagnosis and treatment.

Home Collection for CBC Test Near You

Home collection for the CBC test offers a convenient solution for individuals to get tested without visiting a clinic. With Metropolis Healthcare's lab services, a trained phlebotomist comes to your doorstep to collect blood samples. This service ensures comfort and safety while maintaining high standards of sample handling and testing accuracy. Patients can expect a seamless experience with timely and reliable results, empowering them to take proactive steps in managing their health. Metropolis Healthcare's commitment to accessible healthcare underscores its dedication to providing quality diagnostic solutions conveniently at home.

CBC Test Price in Different Cities

The cost of a CBC Test may vary depending on your location. Here's a table showing the approximate price range for the CBC Test at Metropolis Healthcare in major Indian cities:

The CBC test cost may vary depending on the city and the specific tests included in the panel. However, Metropolis Healthcare offers competitive CBC test prices across major cities in India.

Medically Reviewed by: Dr Suja Ramanathan, Chief of Labs, Chennai and RoTN Metropolis Healthcare Ltd.