Test Detail
Understanding the Test
Test Measures
Interpreting Results
FAQ's
References
Other Tests
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Written by
Dr. Betina Chandolia
BDS, MDS - Oral Pathology and Microbiology
Reviewed by
Dr. Ashish Ranjan
MBBS, MD (Pharmacology)
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Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR)

Also known as Hemogram test, Hmg, Haemogram
Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) Includes 22 testsView All
You need to provide
Blood
This test is for
Male, Female

Understanding Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR)


What is Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR)?

A Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test includes a complete blood count (CBC) test and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test. The CBC test provides information about blood cells, and the ESR test determines the presence of inflammation in the body. These tests help assess overall health.

The blood consists of red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets that perform important bodily functions. RBCs are the most abundant cells in the blood that consist of a protein called hemoglobin. This protein helps transport oxygen throughout the body. WBCs are the components of the immune system and help protect the body against infections and cancers. Platelets are responsible for blood clotting and controlling bleeding. Therefore, determining the levels of these cells can provide important health information. 

Your doctor may advise a Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test if you show symptoms like weakness, fever, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, joint stiffness, shoulder pain, or bruising. This test helps to screen, detect, and monitor medical conditions like infections, nutritional deficiencies, anemia, bleeding disorders, and blood cancers. It also helps the doctor to monitor existing blood disorders and ongoing treatments of conditions that affect your blood cells, like inflammatory diseases and chemotherapy. No special preparation is needed for a hemogram test. You can eat or drink normally as per your daily routine. However, talk to the doctor about all the pre-test instructions.

Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between different labs depending on the methodology and laboratory guidelines. Talk to your doctor about your specific test results. Narrate your complete medical history to help the doctor correlate your clinical and laboratory findings. The test results will help them determine your medical condition, make recommendations for lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise, decide whether or not medication will be required to manage your condition, and formulate your overall treatment plan. 

What is Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) used for?

A Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test is done:

  • To monitor your overall health as a part of routine checkups.

  • If you have symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, or fever.

  • To identify diseases like anemia (low number of red blood cells), immune system disorders, blood cancers, bleeding disorders, etc.

  • To detect the presence of inflammation induced by infections, tumors, or autoimmune illnesses.

  • To monitor the effects of treatments known to affect blood cells, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

  • To evaluate the treatment response of inflammatory diseases.

 

What does Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) measure?

Contains 22 tests

A Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test combines a complete blood count (CBC) test and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test. The CBC test evaluates all of your blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) that reflect your general health. The ESR test, on the other hand, determines the presence of any inflammation or infection in your body.

Interpreting Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) results


Interpretations

 

Hematocrit (Hct)

 

40-52% (Male)

   

37-46% (Female)

   

31-43% (Child)


Hemoglobin (Hgb)

 

13.2-16.2 gm/dL (Male)

   

12.0-15.2 gm/dL (Female)

Red Blood Cell Count (RBC)

 

4.3-6.2x106/µL (Male)

   

3.8-5.5x106/µL (Female)

   

3.8-5.5x106/µL (Infant/Child)


White Blood Cell Count (WBC)

 

4.1-10.9x103/µL

 


DLC

 
 

Neutrophils

35-80%

 

Lymphocytes 

20-50%

 

Monocytes 

2-12%

 

Eosinophils 

0-7%

 

Basophils 

0-2%

     

Platelet Count (Plt)

 

140-450x103/µL






 

Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)

Standard Deviation (SD)

35-47 fL

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

 

82-102 fL (Male)

   

78-101 fL (Female)


Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)                           


Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)

 

27-34 pg



31-35 gm/dL

 

 

  Mean Platelet Volume (MPV)                           6.0-9.5 fL

 

Erythrocyte sedimentation Rate      

 The normal reference range for Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) is:

 

Men

0-15 millimetres per hour (mm/hr), or 0-20 mm/hr for men older than 50

Women

0-20 mm/hr, or 0-30 mm/hr for women older than 50

Children

0-10 mm/hr

Newborns

0-2 mm/hr

 

 

Answers to Patient Concerns & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR)


Frequently Asked Questions about Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR)

Q. When is a Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test performed?

A Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test is performed to find the cause of symptoms like fatigue, weakness, inflammation, and fever.

Q. How is a Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test performed?

A phlebotomist (a trained professional to perform blood draws) will clean the skin using an antiseptic alcohol cotton swab or wipe and take out a blood sample from your body using a needle. The blood sample will be stored safely and transported to the lab for analysis.

Q. What is the benefit of getting a Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test done?

A Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) provides complete information about your blood cells and helps identify the disease before symptoms appear, thus helping you take necessary measures in time.

Q. Is there any risk associated with a Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test?

There is usually no risk associated with this test. However, some people may feel a slight sting when a needle is pricked and may experience some bleeding that is normal and usually not bothersome. Rarely, some people may also experience slight swelling or bruising at the site of the needle prick. Applying ice 3-4 times a day for about a week may help reduce swelling and bruising. If it does not get better, consult your doctor.

Q. Can I take a Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test during pregnancy?

Yes, a hemogram test is safe during pregnancy and may help detect any blood cell abnormalities in the mother and their associated risks to the baby.

Q. Which diseases can a Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test detect?

A Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test can help detect various conditions like infections, allergies, or diseases like anemia, polycythemia, or blood cancers.

Q. Can a Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test detect cancers?

A Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test can help detect blood-related abnormalities that may be suggestive of blood cancers, such as acute and chronic leukemias. This test helps the physician in suggesting further diagnosis and facilitates taking guided treatment decisions.
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