complete blood count

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com·plete blood count (CBC),

a combination of the following determinations: red blood cell count, white blood cell count, erythrocyte indices, hematocrit, differential blood count, and sometimes platelet count.

complete blood count

n. Abbr. CBC

The determination of the quantity of each type of blood cell in a given sample of blood, often including the amount of hemoglobin, the hematocrit, and the proportions of various white cells.

complete blood count (CBC)

a determination of the number of red and white blood cells per cubic millimeter of blood. A CBC is one of the most routinely performed tests in a clinical laboratory and one of the most valuable screening and diagnostic techniques. Most laboratories use an electronic counter for reporting numbers of red and white blood cells and platelets. Examining a stained slide of blood yields useful information about red cell morphological characteristics and types of white blood cells (WBCs). The normal red blood cell (RBC) count in adult males is 4.7 to 6.1 million/mm³. In adult females the normal RBC is 4.2 to 5.4 million/mm³. Each type of white blood cell can be represented as a percentage of the total number of white cells observed. This is called a differential count. The normal adult WBC count is 5000 to 10,000/cm³. Electronic blood counters also automatically determine hemoglobin or hematocrit and include this value in the CBC. See also differential white blood cell count, erythrocyte, hematocrit, hemoglobin, leukocyte.

complete blood count

See CBC.

com·plete blood count

(CBC) (kŏm-plēt' blŭd kownt)

A combination of the following determinations: red blood cell indices and count, white blood cell count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, platelets, and differential blood count.

Complete blood count (CBC)

A routine analysis performed on a sample of blood taken from the patient's vein with a needle and vacuum tube. The measurements taken in a CBC include a white blood cell count, a red blood cell count, the red cell distribution width, the hematocrit (ratio of the volume of the red blood cells to the blood volume), and the amount of hemoglobin (the blood protein that carries oxygen). CBCs are a routine blood test used for many medical reasons, not only for AIDS patients. They can help the doctor determine if a patient is in advanced stages of the disease.

Mentioned in: AIDS Tests, Heart Transplantation

com·plete blood count

(kŏm-plēt' blŭd kownt)

Laboratory-based combination of: red blood cell count, white blood cell count, erythrocyte indices, hematocrit, differential blood count, and often a platelet count.

complete blood count,

n See count, blood, complete.

References in periodicals archive ?

Full blood count analyser technologies have developed rapidly over the last 20 years.

The aim of our study was to validate current NHLS reference ranges for the Gauteng region for full blood count and absolute CD4 lymphocyte counts in the face of technological advances and shifting population demographics.

The accuracy of the full blood count and CD4 values was subject to strict internal and external quality assurance procedures.

Of the 631 female participants, 41 females were removed from statistical analyses because their full blood count results were suggestive of anaemia (HGB <12 g/dl and MCV <80 fl); (15) this may have skewed the data.

Tables II and III summarise the calculated reference intervals for full blood count and CD4 lymphocyte parameters obtained from this study, alongside the reference ranges currently in use in Gauteng NHLS laboratories.

11) This study allowed data collection from a more representative demographic population with a broader age distribution than is currently encompassed by the full blood count reference ranges used in the NHLS Gauteng region.