What Are the Normal Levels for a CBC Blood Test?
The complete blood count is routinely done as part of a complete medical exam. A major portion of the CBC measures red blood cell count, white blood cell count and platelets.
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Purpose
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The purpose of the CBC is to determine general health status and to screen for a variety of disorders. This blood test may also be used to monitor treatment for existing conditions.
White Blood Cell Count
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The number of white blood cells in a volume of blood is measured in the white blood cell count. Normal range varies slightly between laboratories, but is usually between 4,500 and 10,000 cells per cubic millimeter.
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Red Blood Cell Count
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The number of red blood cells in a volume of blood is the red blood cell count. A normal level is usually between 4.2 million and 6.1 million cells/mcL.
Platelets
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Platelets are fragments of cytoplasm found in bone marrow. A normal range is usually 150,000 to 400,000/cmm.
Considerations
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The CBC takes several other measurements, including hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and red cell distribution width. Abnormal results can indicate a wide variety of possible problems or conditions. Talk to your doctor about what your results mean.
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