CBC Blood Tests

Hi, Elisabeth here! As the head nurse of Genexia Health Inc., I’m excited to share with you everything you need to know about a CBC. CBC are one of the most common blood tests we see requested. 

What is a CBC

A CBC, also known as a complete blood count, is a common blood test that measures the levels of different types of cells in your blood. These cells include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A CBC can help detect a wide range of conditions, including anemia, infection, and leukemia.

Why is it done

A CBC is done for many reasons. It can be part of a medical exam to check general health and to look for conditions, such as anemia or leukemia. It can also help diagnose a medical condition, find the cause of symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, and fever, and keep an eye on conditions that affect blood cell counts. A CBC may also be used to keep an eye on treatment with medicines that affect blood cell counts and radiation.

Why is it done before surgery

A CBC is often performed before surgery to establish a baseline for comparison with labs drawn after surgery. This way, it will be more obvious if there is a large change after surgery, or if something very serious like bleeding is happening during the hours and days after surgery. This test may reveal signs of infection, dehydration, anemia, the need for a post-surgery transfusion, and even chronic conditions, such as blood cancers.

What does the results show? 

A CBC measures the following:

• Red blood cells, which carry oxygen
• White blood cells, which fight infection
• Hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells
• Hematocrit, the amount of red blood cells in the blood
• Platelets, which help blood to clot

A complete blood count can show unusual increases or decreases in cell counts. Those changes might point to a medical condition that calls for more testing.

Do you have to fast?

If your blood sample is being tested only for a complete blood count, you can eat and drink as usual before the test. If your blood sample also will be used for other tests, you might need to fast for a certain amount of time before the test.

I hope this blog post has answered your questions about the CBC blood test. If you have any further questions or concerns, or would like to book a blood test, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Genexia Health Inc. (514) 396-9022 or [email protected]. We’re always here to help!