The complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test that is used to diagnose a wide variety of conditions, including anemia, infection, cancer of the blood (leukemia) and to also determine the general health.
A complete blood count (CBC) test shows some of the components and attributes of blood, including:
- Red blood cells
- White blood cells that combat infections
- Hemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells
- Hematocrit, the proportion of red blood cells in your blood to the fluid part or plasma
- Platelets that assist in blood coagulation
As seen in a full blood count, irregular increases or decreases in cell counts can mean that you have an underlying medical condition that calls for further examination.