What's in a full blood count?
Asked by: Marlen Eichmann | Last update: October 4, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (10 votes)
- Red blood cells, which carry oxygen.
- White blood cells, which fight infection.
- Hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells.
- Hematocrit, the amount of red blood cells in the blood.
- Platelets, which help blood to clot.
What would show up on a full blood count?
A full blood count looks at the different cells in your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. There are many conditions and medicines that can affect your FBC results. It's important to discuss your test results with your doctor.
What shows up in a complete blood count?
The CBC test identifies and counts the 7 types of cells found in the blood, red blood cell, neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disease in which the red blood cells produce abnormal pigment (hemoglobin).
What is included in a whole blood test?
Complete blood count (CBC) The complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most common blood tests. It is often done as part of a routine checkup. This test measures many different parts of your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
What is included in total count in blood?
For a CBC blood test, a healthcare provider takes a sample of your blood and sends it to a lab. The lab measures the amount of red blood cells, hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen in your red blood cells), white blood cells and platelets. They also measure the size of your blood cells.
Full Blood Count (FBC/CBC Made Easy) | Blood Tests Explained
What is the composition of blood count?
It has four main components: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Blood has many different functions, including: transporting oxygen and nutrients to the lungs and tissues. forming blood clots to prevent excess blood loss.
Does a full blood test check for everything?
A complete blood count, also called a CBC , usually doesn't give all the answers about a diagnosis. Results outside the expected range may or may not need follow-up. A health care provider might need to look at the results of other tests as well as the results of a CBC .
What cancers are detected by blood tests?
Complete blood count (CBC).
A CBC can detect some blood or immune system cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. But it can't detect solid organ cancers like lung, breast or colon cancers. It can tell your provider how your body responds to treatment and whether the cancer has spread to your bone marrow.
What is the most common cause of high red blood cell count?
Higher red blood cell concentration
The liquid part of blood is called plasma. If plasma gets too low, the red blood cell count seems to go up in a blood sample. This happens with dehydration. It also can happen as a side effect of medicines called diuretics, a common treatment for high blood pressure.
What is the difference between a complete blood count and a full blood count?
A full blood count or complete blood count also called a complete blood count (CBC), is a common test that gives important information about your blood. It helps doctors understand how healthy your blood is and can help diagnose different health conditions.
What cancers can a complete blood count detect?
Aside from leukemia, most cancers cannot be detected in routine blood work, such as a CBC test. However, specific blood tests are designed to identify tumor markers, which are chemicals and proteins that may be found in the blood in higher quantities than normal when cancer is present.
How much is a full blood panel?
Key takeaways: The cost of blood work depends on factors such as the type of test, where you live, and the facility you go to. Without insurance, you can typically expect to pay between $29 and $99 per test or panel for common types of blood work.
What illnesses can be diagnosed with a complete blood count?
Abnormal levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, or hematocrit may be a sign of dehydration, anemia, heart disease, or too little iron in your body. A low white cell count may be a sign of an autoimmune disorder, bone marrow disorder, or cancer.
Can a full blood count detect liver problems?
Blood tests
A low level of serum albumin suggests your liver is not functioning properly. A blood test may also look for signs of abnormal blood clotting, which can indicate significant liver damage.
Does a full blood count check the thyroid?
Blood tests won't find or diagnose thyroid cancer. But they will help to show how well your thyroid gland is working. Your doctor might organise tests to check levels of: thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
What are the six signs of leukemia?
- fatigue.
- a general feeling of discomfort or illness (called malaise)
- loss of appetite.
- weight loss.
- fever.
- shortness of breath.
- paleness.
- rapid heartbeat (called palpitations)
What blood test shows inflammation?
The C-reactive protein (CRP) test is a blood test that checks for inflammation in your body. CRP is a protein that is made in your liver and released into your bloodstream. Levels of CRP start to increase very soon after any inflammation or infection affects your body.
What is the new blood test that detects 50 cancers?
The Grail multi-cancer early detection test works first by determining if cancer cells are present. The body's cells naturally release DNA into the bloodstream, and if cancer cells are present, they do the same. The Grail test spots the cancer cells because of their genetic dysfunction.
What problems can a full blood count detect?
- Anaemia.
- Autoimmune disorders.
- Bone marrow disorders.
- Infections.
- Haemoglobin abnormalities.
- Leukaemia.
- Sickle cell disease.
- Thalassemia.
What is a tumor marker blood test?
Tumor marker tests use a sample of blood to look for chemicals made by cancer cells. These tests don't always help with diagnosing cancer because many healthy cells also make these chemicals. And some conditions that aren't cancer can cause high levels of tumor markers.
What serious things can a blood test show?
- Find out how well organs, such as your kidneys, liver, heart, or thyroid are working.
- Help diagnose diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
- Find out if your medicine is working to make you better.
- Diagnose bleeding or clotting disorders.
What indicates infection in a blood test?
Full blood count —a bacterial infection often raises the white cell count with neutrophilia. C-reactive protein (CRP) — this is elevated above 50 in serious bacterial infections. Procalcitonin — a marker of generalised sepsis due to bacterial infection.
What is included in a complete blood count?
The CBC measures several components of the blood, including the red blood cells (RBC), which carry oxygen; white blood cells (WBC), which fight infection; haemoglobin (Hb), the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells; haematocrit, which is the proportion of red blood cells to the fluid component, or plasma, in the ...
What is the color of healthy blood?
Blood in the human body is red regardless of how oxygen-rich it is, but the shade of red may vary. When the blood returns to the heart, it has less oxygen. It is still red but will be darker.