Introduction
The Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a common test that is ordered on almost every patient who walks through the hospital doors. The test tells us generally how healthy the patient is and can indicate if they have an infection, hemorrhage, anemia, or blood cancer. In this article, we will discuss how to collect a CBC, what it covers, and what those things represent. We will also discuss normal live ranges and what to look for when interpreting lab results.
Collection of CBC
A CBC is collected by sticking the patient’s vein and withdrawing a blood sample from that vein. The sample is then sent to the lab and the lab will run the complete blood count and send back the results.
What Does a CBC Cover?
A CBC covers a variety of things including white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. A CBC with a differential will also provide the specific percentage or absolute counts of the five types of white blood cells such as basophils, monocytes, neutrophils, lymphocyte. The CBC can also tell you about specific red blood cell information such as red blood cell size and hemoglobin concentration.
Normal Ranges
It is important to note that normal ranges can vary from lab to lab. One lab may consider a normal result as 12.5 to 20 while another lab may say it’s 15.5 to 20.5. When interpreting lab results, it is important to know the normal range and recognize if the results are abnormal.
Identifying Abnormal Results
When working as a nurse and looking at a CBC result, it is important to be able to identify if the platelet count is low, what the patient is at risk for or if the white blood count is high, what may be going on with the patient. The lab results will also have the normal range of whatever that area should fall within, which can be helpful in identifying abnormal results.
Conclusion
The Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a common test that is ordered on almost every patient who walks through the hospital doors. It provides a general idea of the patient’s overall health and can indicate if they have an infection, hemorrhage, anemia, or blood cancer. By understanding how to collect a CBC, what it covers, normal ranges, and how to identify abnormal results, nurses can better interpret lab results and provide better care for their patients.
FAQs:
What is a Complete Blood Count (CBC)?
A Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a blood test that tells us generally how healthy a patient is. It can indicate if they have an infection, hemorrhage, anemia, or blood cancer.
How is a CBC collected?
A CBC is collected by sticking the patient's vein and withdrawing a blood sample from that vein. The sample is then sent to the lab and the lab will run the complete blood count and send back the results.
What does a CBC cover?
A CBC covers a variety of things including white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. A CBC with a differential will also provide the specific percentage or absolute counts of the five types of white blood cells such as basophils, monocytes, neutrophils, lymphocyte. The CBC can also tell you about specific red blood cell information such as red blood cell size and hemoglobin concentration.
What are normal ranges for a CBC?
Normal ranges can vary from lab to lab. One lab may consider a normal result as 12.5 to 20 while another lab may say it's 15.5 to 20.5. It is important to know the normal range and recognize if the results are abnormal.
How do I interpret a CBC result?
When interpreting a CBC result, it is important to be able to identify if the platelet count is low, what the patient is at risk for or if the white blood count is high, what may be going on with the patient. The lab results will also have the normal range of whatever that area should fall within, which can be helpful in identifying abnormal results.
