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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Complete Blood Count

COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (FBC)

PURPOSE
  • Performed under many different conditions and to assess many different symptoms or diseases
  • The test can reveal problems with RBC production and destruction, or help diagnose infection, allergies, and problems with blood clotting.
  • MCV, MCH, and MCHC values reflect the size and hemoglobin concentration of individual cells, and are useful in diagnosing different types of anemia.

HOW IS IT PERFORMED?

·         Blood drawn from a vein (on inside of the elbow or the back of the hand) and site is cleaned with antiseptic.
·         Elastic band wrapped around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.
·         Needle inserted into vein and blood is collected into airtight vial or tube.

COMPONENTS

·         White blood cell count (WBC or leukocyte count)
o    Number of white blood cells in a volume of blood
·         White blood cell (WBC) differential count
o    Differentiated by shape and size
o    Automated or manual WBC differential
·         Red cell count (RBC or Erythrocyte Count)
o    Number of red blood cells in a volume of blood
·         Hemoglobin (Hb)
o    Amount of hemoglobin in a volume of blood.
·         Hematocrit (Hct). 
o    Ratio of the volume of red cells to the volume of whole blood.
o    Measured by centrifugation
·         Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 
o    Average volume of a red blood cell.
·         Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) 
o    Average amount of hemoglobin in the average red cell.
o    Calculated value derived from the measurement of Hb and RBC count.
·         Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
o    Average concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of red cells.
·         Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) 
o    Measurement of the variability of red cell size and shape.
o    Higher numbers indicate greater variation in size.
o    Normal range is 11 to 15.
·         Platelet count.
o     The number of platelets in a specified volume of blood.
o    Normal range: 150,000 to 400,000/ cmm (150 to 400 x 109/liter).
·         Mean Platelet Volume (MPV).
o     The average size of platelets in a volume of blood
o   7.5-11.5

NORMAL VALUES
  • RBC count (varies with altitude):
    • Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/mcL
    • Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL
  • WBC count: 4,500 to 10,000 cells/mcL
  • Hematocrit (varies with altitude):
    • Male: 40.7 to 50.3 %
    • Female: 36.1 to 44.3 %
  • Hemoglobin (varies with altitude):
    • Male: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dL
    • Female: 12.1 to 15.1 gm/dL
  • MCV: 80 to 95 femtoliter
  • MCH: 27 to 31 pg/cell
  • MCHC: 32 to 36 gm/dL
(cells/mcL = cells per microliter; gm/dL = grams per deciliter; pg/cell = picograms per cell)

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