Te mārama ki ō hua whakamātaunga kaute toto Understanding your complete blood count results
Your blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. Checking your blood count is often called a complete blood count (CBC) or full blood count (FBC). It looks at each of the different parts of your blood.
Terms used in your complete blood count results
Your blood test will count the different blood cell types and take other blood cell measurements.
Haemoglobin (sometimes called Hb) is found in your red blood cells. It carries the oxygen around your body.
The haematocrit (sometimes called HCT) is the proportion of your blood made up of red blood cells.
MCV stands for mean cell volume. It measures the size of your red blood cells.
MCH stands for mean cell haematocrit. It is the average amount of haemoglobin in each red blood cell.
Platelets form the part of your blood that helps to make it clot if you cut yourself or are injured.
These are all types of white blood cells. They form part of your immune system, and each fights off different kinds of infections.
WBC stands for white blood cells. It is the total number of white blood cells in your blood, adding together all the different types of white blood cells.
Normal blood count results
If you have a copy of your test results, it will show your results and a normal range for each test.
The normal ranges may vary depending on:
- your gender
- your age group
- whether you are pregnant
- whether you have any underlying health conditions.
So the normal ranges shown on your test results may not be exactly right for you. Discuss your results with your healthcare provider if you are unsure.
High blood count results
There can be several reasons for your red blood cells being too high, including dehydration and smoking. You may need to have more tests to find the cause.
The commonest cause of high white blood cells is you are fighting an infection. They will return to normal once you are well. If your white blood cells remain high, there are a number of possible causes, and you may need further tests.
Platelet numbers can be high for several reasons. It can mean you are fighting an infection. Platelet numbers also rise after surgery. A rare cause is essential thrombocythaemia.
Low blood count results
If your haemoglobin is too low, it means you have anaemia. There are several possible causes for this, including:
- low iron levels
- low vitamin levels
- bleeding.
You may need more tests to find out what is causing your anaemia.
If your white blood cells are too low, it may mean you have an infection, or your immune system might not be working properly. You may need more tests to find out why.
If your platelets are too low (called thrombocytopenia), this can make you bruise or bleed more easily. There are lots of reasons why this might happen, for example, after an infection or because of medicines you are taking. You may need to have another blood test if your platelet level is very low.
If you have any questions about your complete blood count, talk to your healthcare provider.