You have probably had a Complete Blood Count or CBC test done before. It is a blood test that is commonly requested at regular check-ups to give your physician an idea of your general health. The test takes six measurements.
Red blood cells (RBC): Your red blood cells carry oxygen to cells and remove carbon dioxide from cells.
White blood cells (WBC): Your white blood cells are involved in fighting infections.
Platelets: Platelets clot the blood and stop bleeding.
Hemoglobin: Hemoglobin is the iron that carries oxygen in the blood.
Hematocrit: Hematocrit is a measure of the amount of space that red blood cells take in the blood.
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): MCV measures the average size of your red blood cells.
Below is an infographic providing you with normal ranges for these measures and what might be wrong if your numbers don’t match. Often other factors can impact these numbers so if your numbers are “abnormal” you will probably be tested further.
*Data for this post comes from the Cleveland Clinic.
Anemia. Can I get B12 pills or shots from family DR
Generally speaking, yes. We’d urge you to discuss any change in your lifestyle or treatment with your doctor!