Complete blood count - series—Results, part 1

Overview

Results:

Normal values vary with altitude and sex.

What abnormal results may mean:

Low numbers of red blood cells may indicate anemia, which has many causes including:

• Blood loss
• Iron deficiency
• Deficiences of vitamin B12 or folic acid
• Bone marrow failure (for example, from radiation, toxin, fibrosis, tumor)
• Erythropoietin deficiency (secondary to kidney disease)
• Hemolysis (RBC destruction)
• Leukemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Over hydration

Low numbers of white blood cells (leukopenia) may indicate:

• Bone marrow failure (for example, due to granuloma (granular tumor), tumor, or fibrosis)
• Presence of cytotoxic substance
• Collagen-vascular diseases (such as lupus erythematosus)
• Disease of the liver or spleen
• Radiation exposure

High numbers of white blood cells (leukocytosis) may indicate:

• Infectious diseases
• Inflammatory disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis or allergy)
• Leukemia
• Severe emotional or physical stress
• Tissue damage (for example, burns)

A high hematocrit may indicate:

• Dehydration
• Burns
• Diarrhea
• Eclampsia
• Erythrocytosis
• Polycythemia vera
• Shock