What does the Complete Blood Count with Differential test measure?

Why is Complete Blood Count with Differential measured?

The CBC is the foundational haematological screen in any comprehensive health panel, providing simultaneous assessment of anaemia type and severity, infection or inflammatory leucocytosis, leucopenia suggesting immunosuppression or bone marrow suppression, and thrombocytopenia or thrombocytosis. In females specifically, haemoglobin, haematocrit, MCV, and MCH are critical for iron deficiency anaemia screening — the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in premenopausal women — and for monitoring haematological status in the context of menstrual blood loss.

Reference ranges

Standard reference

WBC: 4.0–10.5 ×10³/µL; RBC (F): 3.8–5.1 ×10⁶/µL; Hgb (F): 11.5–15.5 g/dL; Hct (F): 34–45%; MCV: 80–100 fL; Platelets: 140–400 ×10³/µL # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm Access Medical Laboratories sex-specific and age-stratified reference ranges for all CBC sub-components.

Functional medicine optimal

Haemoglobin: 13.0–15.0 g/dL (functional optimal for premenopausal females in integrative practice); MCV: 85–95 fL. # REVIEWER FLAG: Functional optimal ranges for CBC sub-components vary between integrative practitioners — reviewer to confirm whether Access Medical Laboratories documentation cites functional ranges or whether these should be attributed to functional medicine consensus.

Units

WBC: ×10³/µL, RBC: ×10⁶/µL, Hgb: g/dL, Hct: %, MCV: fL, MCH: pg, MCHC: g/dL, Platelets: ×10³/µL

Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform. Interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.