Complete Blood Count (CBC) Normal Laboratory Study Values
September 2, 2008 by Admin · 6 Comments  · 
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A complete blood count (CBC) is a series of tests used to evaluate the composition and concentration of the cellular components of blood.
It measures the following:
- The number of red blood cells (RBCs)
- The number of white blood cells (WBCs)
- The total amount of hemoglobin in the blood
- The fraction of the blood composed of red blood cells (hematocrit)
- The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) — the size of the red blood cells
CBC also includes information about the red blood cells that is calculated from the other measurements:
- MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin)
- MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration)
The platelet count is also usually included in the CBC.
Purpose:
The CBC provides valuable information about the blood and to some extent the bone marrow, which is the blood-forming tissue. The CBC is used for the following purposes:
- as a preoperative test to ensure both adequate oxygen carrying capacity and hemostasis
- to identify persons who may have an infection
- to diagnose anemia
- to identify acute and chronic illness, bleeding tendencies, and white blood cell disorders such as leukemia
- to monitor treatment for anemia and other blood diseases
- to determine the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy on blood cell production
Preparation:
There is no special preparation needed
How the Test is Performed:
Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic. An elastic band is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and cause the vein to swell with blood.
A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the band is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
In infants or young children, the area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. A bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any bleeding.
Normal Values:
| TEST | NORMAL VALUES |
| Leukocyte (White Blood Cell) | X1000 cells/mm³ (µL) |
| Birth | 9.0-30.0 |
| 24 hours | 9.4-34.0 |
| 1 month | 5.0-19.5 |
| 1-3 years | 6.0-17.5 |
| 4-7 years | 5.5-15.5 |
| 8-13 years | 4.5-13.5 |
| Adult | 4.5-11.0 |
| Neutrophils Bands | 3-5% (total WBC count) |
| Segs | 54-62% |
| Lymphocytes | 25-33% |
| Monocytes | 3-7% |
| Eosinophils | 1-3% |
| Basophils | 0-0.75% |
| Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells) | |
| Cord | 3.9-5.5 million/mm³ |
| 1-3 days | 4.0-6.6 million/mm³ |
| 1 week | 3.9-6.3 million/mm³ |
| 2 weeks | 3.6-6.2 million/mm³ |
| 1 month | 3.0-5.4 million/mm³ |
| 2 months | 2.7-4.9 million/mm³ |
| 3-6 months | 3.1-4.5 million/mm³ |
| 0.5-2 years | 3.7-5.3 million/mm³ |
| 2-6 years | 3.9-5.3 million/mm³ |
| 6-12 years | 4.0-5.2 million/mm³ |
| 12-18 years (male) | 4.5-5.3 million/mm³ |
| 12-18 years (female) | 4.1-5.1 million/mm³ |
| Hemoglobin | |
| 1-3 days | 14.5-22.5 g/dL |
| 2 months | 9.0-14.0 g/dL |
| 6-12 years | 11.5-15.5 g/dL |
| 12-18 years (male) | 13.0-16.0 g/dL |
| 12-18 (female) | 12.0-16.0g/dL |
| Hematocrit | |
| 1 day | 48-69% |
| 2 days | 48-75% |
| 3 days | 44-72% |
| 2 months | 28-42% |
| 6-12 years | 35-45% |
| 12-18 years (male) | 37-49% |
| 12-18 years (female) | 36-46% |
| Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) | |
| 1-3 days | 95-121µm³ |
| 0.5-2 years | 70-86 µm³ |
| 6-12 years | 77-95 µm³ |
| 12-18 years (male) | 78-98 µm³ |
| 12-18 years (female) | 78-102 µm³ |
| Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) | |
| Birth | 31-37 pg/cell |
| 1-3 days | 31-37 pg/cell |
| 1 week-1 month | 28-40 pg/cell |
| 2 months | 26-34 pg/cell |
| 3-6 months | 25-35 pg/cell |
| 0.5-2 years | 23-31 pg/cell |
| 2-6 years | 24-30 pg/cell |
| 6-12 years | 25-33 pg/cell |
| 12-18 years | 25-35 pg/cell |
| Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) | |
| Birth | 30-36 g Hg/dL RBC |
| 1-3 days | 29-37 g Hg/dL RBC |
| 1-2 weeks | 28-38 g Hg/dL RBC |
| 1-2 months | 29-37 g Hg/dL RBC |
| 3 months-2 years | 30-36 g Hg/dL RBC |
| 2-18 years | 31-37 g Hg/dL RBC |
| Reticulocyte Count | |
| Infants | 2-5% of RBCs |
| Children | 0.5-4% of RBCs |
| 12-18 years (male) | 0.5-1% of RBCs |
| 12-18 years (female) | 0.5-2.5% of RBCs |
| Platelet Count | |
| Birth-1 week | 84,000-478,000/mm³ |
| Thereafter | 150,000-400,000/mm³ |
| ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE (ESR) | |
| TEST | NORMAL VALUE |
| Westergren | |
| Child | 0-10 mm/hour |
| Adult (male) | 0-15 mm/hour |
| Adult (female) | 0-20 mm/hour |
| Wintrobe | |
| Child | 0-13 mm/hour |
| Adult (male) | 0-9 mm/hour |
| Adult (female) | 0-20 mm/hour |
What Abnormal Results Mean:
High numbers of RBCs may indicate:
- Low oxygen tension in the blood
- Congenital heart disease
- Cor pulmonale
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Polycythemia vera
- Dehydration (such as from severe diarrhea)
- Renal (kidney) disease with high erythropoietin production
Low numbers of RBCs may indicate:
- Blood loss
- Anemia (various types)
- Hemorrhage
- Bone marrow failure (for example, from radiation, toxin, fibrosis, tumor)
- Erythropoietin deficiency (secondary to renal disease)
- Hemolysis (RBC destruction)
- Leukemia
- Multiple myeloma
- Malnutrition (nutritional deficiencies of iron, folate, vitamin B12, or vitamin B6)
Low numbers of WBCs (leukopenia) may indicate:
- Bone marrow failure (for example, due to infection, tumor or fibrosis)
- Presence of cytotoxic substance
- Autoimmune/collagen-vascular diseases (such as lupus erythematosus)
- Disease of the liver or spleen
- Radiation exposure
High numbers of WBCs (leukocytosis) may indicate:
- Infectious diseases
- Inflammatory disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis or allergy)
- Leukemia
- Severe emotional or physical stress
- Tissue damage (SUCH AS burns)
Low hematocrit may indicate:
- Anemia (various types)
- Blood loss (hemorrhage)
- Bone marrow failure (for example, due to radiation, toxin, fibrosis, tumor)
- Hemolysis (RBC destruction) related to transfusion reaction
- Leukemia
- Malnutrition or specific nutritional deficiency
- Multiple myeloma
- Rheumatoid arthritis
High hematocrit may indicate:
- Dehydration
- Burns
- Diarrhea
- Polycythemia vera
- Low oxygen tension (smoking, congenital heart disease, living at high altitudes)
Low hemoglobin values may indicate:
- Anemia (various types)
- Blood loss
The test may be performed under many different conditions and in the assessment of many different diseases.
Resources:
US National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health – Medline Plus
Lippincott’s Review Series Pediatrics Nursing
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I appreciate the existence of cyber communication in reaching out people that needs help. I am also greatly troubled because my two year old son has an abnormally high lymphocytes. The result of his PBS says there is an ongoing infection but it was’nt ruled out yet. The only thing that comforts me is there is immature cells noted. Here is his latest result:
Erythrocytes: Mostly normochromic cells with anisocytosis and poikilocytosis.
Leukocytes: Adequate in number with predominance of lymphocytes. Some neutrophils with toxic granulation. No immature cells noted.
Schillings: Lymphoctes: 74
Eosinophils:01
Neutrophils: 25
100
Platelets: Adequate in number
Remarks: Except for toxic granules, smear within normal limit.
Rule out on going inferction
anu po ang mga food na kelangan ng malnutrition?????plz po i need it now………………
i want to clarify if the low hematocrit also indicates fluid overload?
can you send me a copy oh the article..plz..tnx a lot..
i appreciate everything on this site.it is great, so helpful to student nurses and nurses as well.
hope i can have copies so i can use in my profession.
thanks.
thanks again… this website is really great…