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Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
The complete blood count (CBC) test measures essential components of the blood to help your healthcare professional monitor or diagnose various health conditions (eg, anemia, blood disorders, infections, inflammation). Read moreTest details
Sample type:
Blood
Preparation:
You do not need to do anything special to prepare for the sample collection.
This panel does not require fasting.
What
Measures the amount of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets in your blood.
Who
Must be 18+ years of age to purchase.
How
Blood
Schedule an appointment, then visit a Quest Diagnostics patient service center location.
About the Test
This CBC test with differential measures and evaluates the components of your blood cells, including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. Abnormal levels can help identify conditions such as anemia, malnutrition, leukemia, and others. White blood cells are an important part of your immune system, and abnormal levels may mean your body is fighting an infection. Platelets help your blood clot normally.
The CBC provides valuable information from measurements of the type, number and size of cells in your blood. Red blood cell measurements include the number of red blood cells, or RBC count, the amounts of hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and red cell distribution width (RDW). Measurements of white blood cells include number of cells or WBC count, as well as measures of the different kinds of white blood cells—this is what “differential” means. The CBC provides information about your neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils; the number, or count, of platelets; and mean platelet volume (MPV).
Buy your own complete blood count test online with Quest. No doctor’s visit is required – simply purchase CBC testing, visit a nearby Quest® location for sample collection, and get fast results.
How it works
questhealth.com offers 100+ consumer-initiated Quest Diagnostics lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs.
FAQs
Yes, the Complete Blood Count may also be referred to as CBC, Complete Blood Count with Differential, CBC with Diff, Blood Cell Count, or Full Blood Count.
A standard CBC counts the overall amount of white blood cells without distinguishing between the different types of WBCs. A CBC with differential classifies and measures the individual amounts of the 5 different types of WBCs: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.
No, anemia is caused by insufficient levels of hemoglobin, whereas a lack of iron causes iron deficiency.
It's possible to have an iron deficiency while maintaining a normal hemoglobin level despite your body being deficient in iron. However, a person with iron deficiency anemia has neither sufficient levels of hemoglobin nor iron. It's important to note that anemia can also be caused by issues other than iron imbalance, such as blood loss, inflammation, other nutrient deficiencies, and certain health conditions.
It's possible to have an iron deficiency while maintaining a normal hemoglobin level despite your body being deficient in iron. However, a person with iron deficiency anemia has neither sufficient levels of hemoglobin nor iron. It's important to note that anemia can also be caused by issues other than iron imbalance, such as blood loss, inflammation, other nutrient deficiencies, and certain health conditions.
You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.