Test Description

The complete blood count (CBC) is a test that evaluates the cells that circulate in blood. Blood consists of three types of cells suspended in fluid called plasma: white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), and platelets (PLTs). They are produced and mature primarily in the bone marrow and, under normal circumstances, are released into the bloodstream as needed.

When should this test be ordered?
The CBC is a very common test. Many people have a CBC performed when they have a routine health examination. A CBC may be ordered when a person has any number of signs and symptoms that may be related to disorders that affect blood cells. When an individual has fatigue or weakness or has an infection, inflammation, bruising, or bleeding, a CBC test may be ordered to help diagnose the cause and/or determine its severity.

High Risk · Outside Reference Range
All components of a CBC test are typically evaluated together. Depending on the purpose of the test, a number of additional or follow-up tests may be ordered for further investigation.
Borderline Risk · None
None determined for this test.
Low Risk · Within Reference Range
Reference Range:

WBC::
Male::
(0-1) days : 9-30 *10^3 (/µL)
(2-6) days : 9.4-30.4 *10^3 (/µL)
(7-13) days : 5-21 *10^3 (/µL)
(14-29) days : 5-20 *10^3 (/µL)
(30-59) days : 5-19.5 *10^3 (/µL)
(60-93) days : 5.5-18 *10^3 (/µL)
(94-179) days : 6-17.5 *10^3 (/µL)
(180-729) days : 6-17.5 *10^3 (/µL)
(730-2189) days : 5-14.5 *10^3 (/µL)
(2190-4379) days : 4.5-13.5 *10^3 (/µL)
(4380-6569) days : 4-11 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 4.23-9.07 *10^3 (/µL)
Female::
(0-1) days : 9-30 *10^3 (/µL)
(2-6) days : 9.4-30.4 *10^3 (/µL)
(7-13) days : 5-21 *10^3 (/µL)
(14-29) days : 5-20 *10^3 (/µL)
(30-59) days : 5-19.5 *10^3 (/µL)
(60-93) days : 5.5-18 *10^3 (/µL)
(94-179) days : 6-17.5 *10^3 (/µL)
(180-729) days : 6-17.5 *10^3 (/µL)
(730-2189) days : 5-14.5 *10^3 (/µL)
(2190-4379) days : 4.5-13.5 *10^3 (/µL)
(4380-6569) days : 4-11 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 3.98-10.04 *10^3 (/µL)

RBC::
Male::
(0-1) days : 3.9-5.4 *10^6 (/µL)
(2-6) days : 4-6.6 *10^6 (/µL)
(7-13) days : 3.9-6.3 *10^6 (/µL)
(14-29) days : 3.6-6.2 *10^6 (/µL)
(30-59) days : 3-5.4 *10^6 (/µL)
(60-93) days : 2.7-4.9 *10^6 (/µL)
(94-179) days : 3.1-4.5 *10^6 (/µL)
(180-690) days : 3.7-5.4 *10^6 (/µL)
(691-1825) days : 3.9-5.3 *10^6 (/µL)
(1826-4015) days : 4-5.2 *10^6 (/µL)
(4016-6569) days : 4.1-6 *10^6 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 4.63-6.08 *10^6 (/µL)
Female::
(0-1) days : 3.9-5.4 *10^6 (/µL)
(2-6) days : 4-6.6 *10^6 (/µL)
(7-13) days : 3.9-6.3 *10^6 (/µL)
(14-29) days : 3.6-6.2 *10^6 (/µL)
(30-59) days : 3-5.4 *10^6 (/µL)
(60-93) days : 2.7-4.9 *10^6 (/µL)
(94-179) days : 3.1-4.5 *10^6 (/µL)
(180-690) days : 3.7-5.4 *10^6 (/µL)
(691-1825) days : 3.9-5.3 *10^6 (/µL)
(1826-4015) days : 3.8-5.2 *10^6 (/µL)
(4016-6569) days : 3.8-5.2 *10^6 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 3.93-5.22 *10^6 (/µL)

Hemoglobin::
Male::
(0-1) days : 13.5-19.5 (g/dL)
(2-6) days : 14.5-22.5 (g/dL)
(7-13) days : 13.5-21.5 (g/dL)
(14-29) days : 12.5-20.5 (g/dL)
(30-59) days : 10-18 (g/dL)
(60-93) days : 9-14 (g/dL)
(94-179) days : 9.5-13.5 (g/dL)
(180-729) days : 10.5-13.5 (g/dL)
(730-4379) days : 11.5-13.5 (g/dL)
(4380-6569) days : 13.5-17.7 (g/dL)
(>= 6570) days : 13.7-17.5 (g/dL)
Female::
(0-1) days : 13.5-19.5 (g/dL)
(2-6) days : 14.5-22.5 (g/dL)
(7-13) days : 13.5-21.5 (g/dL)
(14-29) days : 12.5-20.5 (g/dL)
(30-59) days : 10-18 (g/dL)
(60-93) days : 9-14 (g/dL)
(94-179) days : 9.5-13.5 (g/dL)
(180-729) days : 10.5-13.5 (g/dL)
(730-4379) days : 11.5-13.5 (g/dL)
(4380-6569) days : 11.7-15.7 (g/dL)
(>= 6570) days : 11.2-15.7 (g/dL)

Hematocrit::
Male::
(0-1) days : 42-60 (%)
(2-6) days : 45-67 (%)
(7-13) days : 42-66 (%)
(14-29) days : 39-63 (%)
(30-59) days : 31-55 (%)
(60-93) days : 28-42 (%)
(94-179) days : 29-41 (%)
(180-729) days : 33-39 (%)
(730-2189) days : 34-40 (%)
(2190-4379) days : 35-45 (%)
(4380-6569) days : 40-52 (%)
(>= 6570) days : 40.1-51 (%)
Female::
(0-1) days : 42-60 (%)
(2-6) days : 45-67 (%)
(7-13) days : 42-66 (%)
(14-29) days : 39-63 (%)
(30-59) days : 31-55 (%)
(60-93) days : 28-42 (%)
(94-179) days : 29-41 (%)
(180-729) days : 33-39 (%)
(730-2189) days : 34-40 (%)
(2190-4379) days : 35-45 (%)
(4380-6569) days : 35-47 (%)
(>= 6570) days : 34.1-44.9 (%)

MCV::
Male::
(0-1) days : 98-118 (fL)
(2-6) days : 95-121 (fL)
(7-13) days : 88-126 (fL)
(14-29) days : 86-124 (fL)
(30-59) days : 85-123 (fL)
(60-93) days : 77-115 (fL)
(94-179) days : 74-108 (fL)
(180-690) days : 70-86 (fL)
(691-1825) days : 75-87 (fL)
(1826-4379) days : 77-95 (fL)
(4380-6569) days : 82-98 (fL)
(>= 6570) days : 83.5-99.5 (fL)
Female::
(0-1) days : 98-118 (fL)
(2-6) days : 95-121 (fL)
(7-13) days : 88-126 (fL)
(14-29) days : 86-124 (fL)
(30-59) days : 85-123 (fL)
(60-93) days : 77-115 (fL)
(94-179) days : 74-108 (fL)
(180-690) days : 70-86 (fL)
(691-1825) days : 75-87 (fL)
(1826-4379) days : 77-95 (fL)
(4380-6569) days : 82-98 (fL)
(>= 6570) days : 83.5-99.5 (fL)

MCH::
Male::
(0-1) days : 31-37 (pg)
(2-6) days : 31-37 (pg)
(7-59) days : 28-40 (pg)
(60-93) days : 26-34 (pg)
(94-179) days : 25-35 (pg)
(180-729) days : 23-31 (pg)
(730-2189) days : 24-30 (pg)
(2190-4379) days : 25-34 (pg)
(4380-6569) days : 27-34 (pg)
(>= 6570) days : 25.7-32.2 (pg)
Female::
(0-1) days : 31-37 (pg)
(2-6) days : 31-37 (pg)
(7-59) days : 28-40 (pg)
(60-93) days : 26-34 (pg)
(94-179) days : 25-35 (pg)
(180-729) days : 23-31 (pg)
(730-2189) days : 24-30 (pg)
(2190-4379) days : 25-34 (pg)
(4380-6569) days : 27-34 (pg)
(>= 6570) days : 25.6-32.2 (pg)

MCHC::
Male::
(0-1) days : 30-36 (g/dL)
(2-6) days : 29-37 (g/dL)
(7-29) days : 28-38 (g/dL)
(30-93) days : 29-37 (g/dL)
(94-720) days : 30-36 (g/dL)
(721-4380) days : 31-37 (g/dL)
(4381-6569) days : 32-36 (g/dL)
(>= 6570) days : 32.3-36.5 (g/dL)
Female::
(0-1) days : 30-36 (g/dL)
(2-6) days : 29-37 (g/dL)
(7-29) days : 28-38 (g/dL)
(30-93) days : 29-37 (g/dL)
(94-720) days : 30-36 (g/dL)
(721-4380) days : 31-37 (g/dL)
(4381-6569) days : 32-36 (g/dL)
(>= 6570) days : 32.2-35.5 (g/dL)

RDW - SD::
Male:: 35.1-43.9 (fL)
Female:: 36.4-46.3 (fL)

RDW - CV::
Male:: 11.6-14.4 (%)
Female:: 11.7-14.4 (%)

Platelet Count::
Male::
(0-179) days : 100-300 *10^3 (/µL)
(180-6569) days : 150-400 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 129-326 *10^3 (/µL)
Female::
(0-179) days : 100-300 *10^3 (/µL)
(180-6569) days : 150-400 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 154-374 *10^3 (/µL)

Neutrophil Count::
Male::
(0-4379) days : 1.65-6.75 *10^3 (/µL)
(4380-6569) days : 1.95-6.95 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 1.78-5.38 *10^3 (/µL)
Female::
(0-4379) days : 1.65-6.75 *10^3 (/µL)
(4380-6569) days : 1.95-6.95 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 1.56-6.13 *10^3 (/µL)

Lymphocyte Count::
Male::
(0-6) days : 0.7-7.3 *10^3 (/µL)
(7-59) days : 3.5-13.1 *10^3 (/µL)
(60-269) days : 3.7-9.9 *10^3 (/µL)
(270-449) days : 2.6-10.4 *10^3 (/µL)
(450-729) days : 2.7-11.9 *10^3 (/µL)
(730-1824) days : 1.7-6.9 *10^3 (/µL)
(1825-3649) days : 1.1-5.9 *10^3 (/µL)
(3650-6569) days : 1-5.3 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 1.32-3.57 *10^3 (/µL)
Female::
(0-6) days : 0.7-7.3 *10^3 (/µL)
(7-59) days : 3.5-13.1 *10^3 (/µL)
(60-269) days : 3.7-9.9 *10^3 (/µL)
(270-449) days : 2.6-10.4 *10^3 (/µL)
(450-729) days : 2.7-11.9 *10^3 (/µL)
(730-1824) days : 1.7-6.9 *10^3 (/µL)
(1825-3649) days : 1.1-5.9 *10^3 (/µL)
(3650-6569) days : 1-5.3 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 1.18-3.74 *10^3 (/µL)

Monocytes Count::
Male::
(0-4379) days : 0.3-0.95 *10^3 (/µL)
(4380-6569) days : 0-0.9 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 0.3-0.9 *10^3 (/µL)
Female::
(0-4379) days : 0.3-0.95 *10^3 (/µL)
(4380-6569) days : 0-0.9 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 0.3-0.9 *10^3 (/µL)

Eosinophil Count::
Male::
(0-4379) days : 0.05-0.55 *10^3 (/µL)
(4380-6569) days : 0-0.7 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 0-0.54 *10^3 (/µL)
Female::
(0-4379) days : 0.05-0.55 *10^3 (/µL)
(4380-6569) days : 0-0.7 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 0-0.36 *10^3 (/µL)

Basophil Count::
Male::
(0-4379) days : 0-0.25 *10^3 (/µL)
(4380-6569) days : 0-0.2 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 0-0.08 *10^3 (/µL)
Female::
(0-4379) days : 0-0.25 *10^3 (/µL)
(4380-6569) days : 0-0.2 *10^3 (/µL)
(>= 6570) days : 0-0.08 *10^3 (/µL)

Immature Granulocyte Count::
Male:: 0- 0.031 *10^3 (/µL)
Female:: 0-0.031 *10^3 (/µL)

MPV (Mean Platelet Volume)::
Male::
(0-6569) days : 7.4-10.4 (fL)
(>= 6570) days : 9.4-12.4 (fL)
Female::
(0-6569) days : 7.4-10.4 (fL)
(>= 6570) days : 9.4-12.3 (fL)

Nucleated RBC count::
Male:: 0-0.012 *10^3 (/µL)
Female:: 0-0.012 *10^3 (/µL)

Nucleated RBC %::
Male:: 0-0.2 (/100WBC)
Female:: 0-0.2 (/100WBC)
Testing Method Used
Laser Flow Cytometry.

Sample is stable for 2 days at 2-8°C.

Please ship samples daily.
Improvements and Prevention
Specimen Type
EDTA
Fasting Required
No
Drawing and Processing
  1. Draw from a vein into a K2 EDTA, purple top tubetube3
  2. Invert tube (do not shake) 5-6 times to mix adequately
  3. DO NOT CENTRIFUGE
  4. Do not leave at room temperature for more than 1 hour
  5. Keep cold in a refrigerator to maintain stability, until ready to ship
Shipping Instructions
  1. Freeze ice packs 24 hours prior to use
  2. Place ice packs inside the Styrofoam insulated kit
  3. Place processed tubes inside biohazard bag, place inside kit
  4. Seal box, print airbill and adhere to box and wait for courier to pick up
Rejection Criteria
QNS; temperature out of range upon receipt; grossly hemolyzed or lipemic; wrong specimen type; sample stability exceeded for this analyte; unlabeled or mislabeled specimen.
References

1. Verso, ML (May 1962). “The Evolution of Blood Counting Techniques”. Read at a meeting of the Section of the History of Medicine, First Australian Medical Congress 8: 149–58. Retrieved 9 September 2013.

2. Buttarello, M; Plebani, M (Jul 2008). “Automated blood cell counts: state of the art.”.

The information provided here is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used or substituted as medical advice. You should consult a healthcare practitioner regarding medical diagnosis or treatment.