Medical UpDate
Winter 2007
Cliff Notes of Health: Your Blood
On medical TV shows, doctors always order a "CBC." What is it and why is it such a standard test?
While TV shows emphasize the drama of a CBC in the emergency room, this test is typically done as part of a routine physical examination. "CBC" stands for Complete Blood Count and it is a key blood test for diagnosing a patient’s condition because it provides important information about the types and numbers of cells in the blood.
"Evaluating blood test results is like reading Cliff Notes for 'War and Peace.' You get a comprehensive overview of a large and complicated entity in a relatively non-invasive way," says Kimberley Carlson, M.D., an Internal Medicine doctor at Camino Medical Group’s Mountain View Center. "A CBC provides basic information about the general state of your health so your doctor can diagnose what is going on inside."
An increase or decrease in the numbers of the different types of white blood cells can help identify infection, an allergic or toxic reaction to certain medications or chemicals, and numerous other medical conditions.
Some universal symptoms -- like fever, fatigue or weight loss -- can indicate a more serious condition. The CBC can often diagnose if that is the case. This test finds infections and diseases of the blood, detects anemia, monitors a patient’s response to medications or special treatment (such as chemotherapy and radiation) and much more.