What are the results of the Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Differential?

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From the Guidelines

The CBC and differential results show all values are within normal reference ranges, indicating normal hematopoiesis with no evidence of infection, inflammation, anemia, or other hematologic abnormalities. The white blood cell count (WBC) is 9.2 x 10^9/L, which is normal (reference range 4.0-11.0) 1. Red blood cell parameters including RBC count (4.71 x 10^12/L), hemoglobin (146 g/L), and hematocrit (0.45 L/L) are all normal. Red cell indices including MCV (95 fL), MCHC (328 g/L), and RDW (12.2%) are within normal limits, indicating normal red cell size and hemoglobin content. The platelet count is 382 x 10^9/L, which is within the normal range. The differential count shows normal absolute counts of neutrophils (5.8 x 10^9/L), lymphocytes (2.3 x 10^9/L), monocytes (0.6 x 10^9/L), eosinophils (0.3 x 10^9/L), basophils (0.1 x 10^9/L), and immature granulocytes (0.0 x 10^9/L). As stated in the clinical practice guidelines for evaluation of anemia 1, a complete blood count assesses bone marrow function, and since there are no abnormalities in two or more cell lines, no further discussion with a hematologist is warranted based on these results. Key points to consider in this CBC and differential results include:

  • Normal white blood cell count
  • Normal red blood cell parameters
  • Normal red cell indices
  • Normal platelet count
  • Normal differential count Given the normal results, no further hematologic workup is needed based on these results.

From the Research

Complete Blood Count (CBC) Results

The provided CBC results show the following values:

  • White Blood Cell (WBC) count: 9.2 x 10^9/L, within the reference range of 4.0-11.0 x 10^9/L 2
  • Red Blood Cell (RBC) count: 4.71 x 10^12/L, within the reference range of 3.80-5.20 x 10^12/L
  • Hemoglobin: 146 g/L, within the reference range of 120-160 g/L
  • Hematocrit: 0.45 L/L, within the reference range of 0.36-0.48 L/L
  • Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): 95 fL, above the reference range of 80-100 fL
  • Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC): 328 g/L, within the reference range of 310-360 g/L
  • Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW): 12.2%, within the reference range of <16.0%
  • Platelet count: 382 x 10^9/L, within the reference range of 140-400 x 10^9/L

Differential Count Results

The differential count results show the following values:

  • Neutrophil absolute count: 5.8 x 10^9/L, within the reference range of 1.8-7.5 x 10^9/L
  • Immature Granulocytes absolute count: 0.0 x 10^9/L, within the reference range of 0.0-0.1 x 10^9/L
  • Lymphocytes absolute count: 2.3 x 10^9/L, within the reference range of 0.5-4.5 x 10^9/L
  • Monocytes absolute count: 0.6 x 10^9/L, within the reference range of 0.0-1.1 x 10^9/L
  • Eosinophils absolute count: 0.3 x 10^9/L, within the reference range of 0.0-0.7 x 10^9/L
  • Basophils absolute count: 0.1 x 10^9/L, no reference range provided

Factors Affecting CBC Results

Several factors can affect CBC results, including:

  • Anticoagulant used: different anticoagulants can affect the results of CBC parameters, such as hemoglobin and hematocrit 3
  • Blood sample volume: underfilling of blood collection tubes can affect the results of CBC parameters, such as hematocrit and MCV 3
  • Storage conditions: storage of blood samples at room temperature can affect the results of CBC parameters, such as hematocrit and MCV 3

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Understanding the complete blood count with differential.

Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, 2003

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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