1. Home
2. Blogs

What is a Complete Blood Count Test?

• 
• 
• 
• 0
• 0

Health issues are increasing among people of all ages, making it important to follow healthy lifestyle habits and prioritise preventive healthcare. While maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial for your overall well-being, preventive healthcare helps detect current and potential health issues early, allowing for timely treatment and reduced risk of complications. The CBC, or Complete Blood Count test, plays an important role in preventive healthcare. This simple yet powerful blood test gives crucial information about various types of blood cells and helps assess the functioning of key organs in the body. Let’s talk about the CBC blood test in detail.

What is a Complete Blood Count test?

The Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a common and comprehensive blood test that measures the levels of various components in your blood. It helps evaluate your overall health and can diagnose a range of conditions, such as anaemia, infections, and blood disorders.

Here’s what CBC measures —

• Red blood cells:

These cells are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your body and returning carbon dioxide to the lungs for exhalation. Red blood cells are the most abundant type of blood cell.

• White blood cells:

White blood cells are a key part of the immune system. They help fight infections, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms. Although they are fewer in number than red blood cells, they are crucial for your immune defence.

• Platelets:

Platelets are small cells that help with blood clotting. When blood vessels are injured, they form clots to stop bleeding.

• Haemoglobin:

Haemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the organs and tissues in your body. It also carries carbon dioxide back to the lungs for removal. Haemoglobin is the most important component of red blood cells.

• Haematocrit:

Haematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in a person’s blood. It is an important indicator of the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. A higher or lower haematocrit can suggest various medical conditions.

• Mean corpuscular volume (MCV):

MCV is a measure of the average size of red blood cells. It helps in diagnosing different types of anaemia – a low MCV indicates microcytic anaemia (small cells), while a high one suggests macrocytic anaemia (large cells).

What is the CBC test used for?

A CBC, or Complete Blood Count test, is used for detecting various conditions and assessing your overall health. By measuring different components of the blood, it tells about early signs of abnormalities in blood cell counts and provides important clues to underlying health issues.

In addition to diagnosing illnesses, CBC is also used for monitoring the effects of treatments or tracking the progress of ongoing health conditions. It is often included in routine check-ups to ensure that blood cells remain within a healthy range.

Why do I need a CBC test?

You may need a CBC test for the following reasons —

• Routine check-ups:

CBC is often a part of routine health exams. It helps check your overall health and detect potential issues before symptoms appear.

• Evaluating symptoms:

If you are experiencing unexplained symptoms, such as fever, fatigue or bruising, a CBC test can help find out the cause.

• Diagnosing health conditions:

This simple blood test helps diagnose various conditions, such as anaemia, immune system problems, infections, and bleeding disorders.

• Monitoring existing conditions:

If you have chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, or kidney disease or are undergoing chemotherapy or any other treatment, a CBC can help track how your body is responding.

• Post-surgery or post-treatment:

Doctors may also recommend this test to monitor recovery or check for any complications after surgery or treatment.

• During pregnancy:

A CBC test is also done to monitor the health of pregnant women.

What happens during a Complete Blood Count test?

During a CBC test, a small sample of your blood is drawn, typically from a vein in your arm. The sample is then analysed in the laboratory for various components. Here’s how the test is done —

• Preparation:

There is no special preparation for a CBC test. However, your healthcare provider may ask you to fast if additional tests are being done at the same time.

• Drawing out blood:

The healthcare professional will clean the area in your arm with an antiseptic solution and insert a needle into a vein, usually in the elbow area. He/she will insert the needle for a few seconds and collect a small amount of blood in a syringe or vial. After drawing blood, he/she removes the needle and places a band-aid on the arm.

• Lab analysis:

The collected blood is then sent to a laboratory, where it is analysed to count and evaluate various components, such as white blood cells, red blood cells, haemoglobin, platelets, and haematocrit.

• Test results:

The blood test results are usually ready within a few hours or a day. Your healthcare provider will review the test results to learn if they fall within the normal range. In case of any abnormalities, he/she may recommend follow-up tests and treatments.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for the CBC test?

For most people, no special preparation is needed for a CBC test. However, the following are a few things to keep in mind —

• Fasting:

Generally, you don’t need to fast for a CBC test. However, if it is done alongside other tests, such as blood sugar or cholesterol tests, your doctor may ask you to fast for about 8-12 hours before the sample is collected.

• Medications:

If you are taking any medications or supplements, make sure you tell your healthcare provider about them. Some medications may affect the test results.

Are there any risks to the test?

A CBC test is generally safe and carries no or some minor risks. The following are some risks that some individuals may experience —

• Bruising:

It is common to experience mild bruising at the site where the needle is inserted.

• Bleeding:

Some people may bleed a little after blood is drawn, especially if they take blood-thinning medications or have a bleeding disorder.

• Pain and discomfort:

You may experience slight pain when the needle is inserted in the arm to draw blood, but this usually lasts for a moment.

• Dizziness:

Some people may feel lightheaded after blood is drawn, especially if they are anxious about needles.

Conclusion

To sum up, the CBC or Complete Blood Count test is an essential tool for assessing your overall health and diagnosing various conditions, such as anaemia and infections. By measuring the key components of your blood, the test helps healthcare professionals identify abnormalities and suggest appropriate treatments. Given the rising number of health issues, it is wise to opt for CBC tests as part of routine check-ups and also stay covered under a health insurance policy and critical illness insurance for those uncertain times. Both these insurance products can provide financial security, helping you meet your healthcare needs without burning a hole in your pocket.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

---

• 
• 
• 
•