Know All About the Complete Blood Picture (CBP) Test

The Complete Blood Picture (CBP) is used by medical professionals to assess overall health of a patient and detect any potential issues. It is usually a part of the full body checkup.

What is the Complete Blood Picture test?

It is a fundamental blood test analysing the patient’s blood. Underlying health conditions and potential abnormalities are determined by examining red blood cells and white blood cells. 

• Red blood cells – These cells carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. The CBP test measures the number of red blood cells, the size of red blood cells, and the amount of haemoglobin in the red blood cells.
• White blood cells – These cells are the body’s response to an infection. The CBP test measures the number of white blood cells and the different types of white blood cells. 
• Platelets – These are blood cells that help to clot blood. The test is used to measure the number of platelets. 

When is the CBP test recommended?

It is often part of a routine full body checkup. Doctors will recommend this test if a patient is experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, unexplained weight loss or shortness of breath.  

What are the diseases that you can assess with a CBP test?

With the help of the Complete Blood Picture test, medical practitioners gain valuable information on the patient’s composition and quality of blood. You can search for a testing center near me and get in touch with the right diagnostic center. It enables them to know the immune system’s strength and identify any ongoing infections. Some diseases and disorders that CBP test can help diagnose are:

• Hemoglobin levels to check anemia
• Hematocrit levels to check for disorders like bone marrow disorder
• White blood cell count or differential count to signal infections
• Blood’s oxygen carrying capacity to identify blood clotting disorders
• Immune system abnormalities, immune response and autoimmune diseases

What is the procedure of the CBP test?

The comprehensive blood analysis is a simple and painless procedure done by technicians like Vijaya Diagnostic center. Lab technicians may recommend fasting before the test, and it is important for patients to reach out to understand the precautions and instructions to ensure the sample collected is fit for examination. 

• A healthcare professional from a diagnostic center will draw a sample of blood from the vein of the patient’s arm with the help of a sterile needle. 
• The blood is stored in a test tube which is labelled with the patient’s name.
• The test tube is stored under ideal conditions to ensure accuracy of results.
• Skilled professionals will examine and evaluate the sample microscopically. 
• Modern diagnostic centers also use automated machines to gather essential data regarding various parameters. 
• The data is analysed to determine if the patient has an illness or disorder.

How is the CBP data interpreted?

As mentioned above, the Complete Blood Picture test data helps in gaining insights into the patient’s health which helps medical professionals like doctors to identify potential issues. The results are compared to established reference ranges to identify abnormalities. Doctors do not base their diagnosis on the test alone. They use the result of the CBP test in conjunction with the patient’s medical history, symptoms, health condition, and other diagnostic tests. Hence it is important to choose a reputed diagnostic service like Vijaya Diagnostic center.

The test allows the doctors and other healthcare professionals to timely and targeted medical interventions to optimize patient’s health and wellbeing. 

The established references for the CBP test: 

• Red blood cell count – It is the number of RBCs per microliter of blood. The normal count is between 4.5 and 5.9 million count per microliter. 
• Hematocrit – It is the percentage of blood that is made up of RBCs. The normal count is between 40 and 50 percent.
• Hemoglobin – It is a protein in RBCs that carries oxygen. The normal level is between 13 and 18 grams per deciliter.   
• White blood cells – It is the number of WBCs per microliter of blood. The normal count is between 4500 to 11000 cells per microliter. 
• Differential: The differential is a count of the different types of white blood cells. A normal differential is as follows:

• Neutrophils: 50-70%
• Lymphocytes: 20-40%
• Monocytes: 2-8%
• Eosinophils: 1-4%
• Basophils: 0-1%

If the test results are not in the normal range, doctors are more likely to recommend other additional tests to confirm the diagnosis or determine the cause of the disorder. 

Are there any risks associated with the CBP test?

The risks of a CBP test are low and the most common is a small amount of bleeding at the venipuncture site. There can be allergic reactions to the needle and an infection at the venipuncture site.