How to Read a CBC Test Result
A CBC test result report is comprised of a number of different items that can be reported on your blood. It's easier to read than you might think. Next to your numerical result for red and white blood cell counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelets you will see the averages for your sex and whether they are high, low or normal. The reasons that your results are not in the normal range are harder to determine. Your results and symptoms will be reviewed by a health care professional to determine if further testing and treatment is necessary.
Instructions
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Locate the lines on your report that include your results on red blood cell count, hemoglobin and hematocrit. These are all aspects of your red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen. The accepted normal range for red blood cell counts in men are 4.32 to 5.72 trillion cells per liter. In women the normal range is 3.90 to 5.03 trillion cells per liter. Hemoglobin is the oxygen carrying protein in red blood cells and is normally between 13.5 to 17.5 grams per deciliter in men and 12.0 to 15.5 grams per deciliter in women. Hematocrit is measure by calculating the percent of red blood cells to plasma. The normal range for men is 38.8 to 50.0 percent. The range for women is 34.9 to 44.5 percent. A lower than normal result in all three of these lines indicates anemia. A higher than normal count points towards polyaythemia vera, a blood disorder in which your bone marrow makes too many blood cells, or heart disease.
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Locate the line that includes your white blood cell count. White blood cells fight infection. The normal range for men and women is 3.5 to 10.5 billion cells per liter. A low white blood cell count indicates that a medicine you are taking is destroying white blood cells or you have a medical condition like autoimmune disorder, bone marrow problems or cancer.
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Locate your platelet count. Blood platelets help your blood with clotting. The normal range for men and women is 150 to 450 billion per liter. High or low platelet counts can be caused by a medicine you are taking or a number of medical conditions that require additional tests to diagnose.
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Tips & Warnings
CBCs are ordered for a variety of reasons. It could be ordered to monitor drug reactions, to establish your particular normals or to help in diagnosing an illness.
If you are uncomfortable discussing your results with your physician seek another professional to receive your test results.
Being in the low range of normal or the high range of normal may need to be investigated also. Your over all medical condition will guide further testing.
