Complete Blood Count
The commonest blood test there is. It counts the three cell lines — red cells that carry oxygen, white cells that fight infection, and platelets that stop bleeding — and describes the size and haemoglobin content of the red cells, which is often what tells one anaemia apart from another.
This is an educational reading aid, not a diagnosis and not medical advice. Reference ranges differ between laboratories — always read the range printed on your own report. Nothing here can see you, your history or your medicines. Do not start, stop or change any treatment on the strength of this page: take your report to a qualified doctor.
Reference ranges reviewed by Dr. Mohan Gayenlast reviewed
Your values
Fill in only the ones on your report. Anything you leave blank is simply skipped.
The protein inside red cells that carries oxygen. A low haemoglobin is what the word "anaemia" means.
How many red cells there are, as opposed to how much haemoglobin they carry.
The percentage of blood volume that is red cells. It tracks the haemoglobin closely.
The average SIZE of a red cell. When haemoglobin is low, this is the number that most often points at the reason.
The average amount of haemoglobin in each red cell.
How much the red cells vary in size from one another. It rises early in iron deficiency, often before the haemoglobin falls.
The infection-fighting cells, counted together.
The white cells that deal with bacterial infection. This is the single number that says how protected somebody on chemotherapy is.
The white cells that deal with viruses and carry immune memory.
The cell fragments that plug a bleeding vessel.
Enter one or more values and your reading will appear here.
What this panel is easy to get wrong
- Reference intervals differ between laboratories and between analysers. The range printed on your own report is the one that applies to your sample.
- Pregnancy, altitude, smoking, recent illness, dehydration and the time of day all move these numbers without anything being wrong.
- Children and newborns have entirely different intervals. These are adult values.
Where these ranges come from: Adult reference intervals as commonly published by clinical laboratories; WHO haemoglobin thresholds for anaemia (Hb < 13 g/dL in men, < 12 g/dL in non-pregnant women) are noted in the text.
Where this is written from: This site is written from Indian clinical practice. Drug availability and brand names, vaccination schedules, national health programmes and some reference cut-offs differ between countries — a schedule or a threshold that is standard here may not be standard where you are. If you are reading outside India, check anything on this page against your own country’s guidance before you act on it.
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Haemoglobin, white cells, platelets and the red-cell indices.