Definition - What does Full Blood Count mean?
A full blood count (FBC) is test used to assess a patient's overall health. This test may also be used to detect blood disorders, or other conditions, that cause changes in the status of the blood cells. A full blood count will include an evaluation of the red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelets. This test will also assess the ratio of red blood cells to the total volume of blood in the sample. This ratio is referred to as the hematocrit (Ht). A full blood count is also called a complete blood count (CBC).
SureHire explains Full Blood Count
Because blood affects basically every system in the body, changes to the blood and abnormalities can affect health and well being quickly. A full blood count is a base test often run to help a doctor begin to pinpoint underlying causes for certain nonspecific complaints and symptoms presented by a patient.
The ratio of each type of cell in the blood normally falls within a predictable range. Changes to these ratios or to the size, shape, or amount of a single type of blood cell may indicate an underlying health problem. For example, a low red blood cell count may indicate that a patient has anemia, kidney disease, or one of several other conditions. A high white blood cell count may point to a chronic infection, inflammatory disease, or a disorder in the bone marrow. A person with too many red blood cells as a portion of his or her total blood fluid may be suffering from dehydration.
A full blood count is an efficient and reliable method to detect imbalances in the blood's cells. This information may then be used to detect disease, track a condition's progression or suggest treatments or lifestyle changes to improve a patient's health.
