A COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC) IS A COMPREHENSIVE BLOOD TEST THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE CELLS IN YOUR BLOOD. IT MEASURES THE NUMBER OF RED BLOOD CELLS, WHITE BLOOD CELLS, AND PLATELETS, AS WELL AS HEMOGLOBIN (THE PROTEIN THAT CARRIES OXYGEN) AND HEMATOCRIT (THE PERCENTAGE OF RED BLOOD CELLS IN YOUR BLOOD). A CBC IS USED TO DIAGNOSE AND MONITOR A WIDE RANGE OF CONDITIONS, INCLUDING ANEMIA, INFECTIONS, BLEEDING DISORDERS, AND BLOOD CANCERS.

THIS PANEL IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DIAGNOSE AND DIFFERENTIATE VARIOUS TYPES OF ANEMIA, PARTICULARLY IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA. IT HELPS DETERMINE IF IRON STORES ARE LOW AND GUIDES TREATMENT.