From the Guidelines
A Complete Blood Count (CBC) report typically includes several important ratios, such as the red cell distribution width (RDW), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), to help clinicians evaluate blood composition and potential health issues. When evaluating a CBC report, it's essential to consider these ratios, as they provide valuable insights into potential blood disorders, nutritional deficiencies, infections, or inflammatory processes.
- The RDW measures variation in red blood cell size, which can indicate iron deficiency anemia or other blood disorders.
- The MCV indicates the average size of red blood cells, helping to diagnose conditions such as microcytic or macrocytic anemia.
- The MCH reflects the average amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell, while the MCHC shows the average concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of red blood cells. Additionally, some CBC reports may include the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), which can serve as markers for inflammation or infection, as seen in a study published in 1, where an elevated total band count and increased percentage of neutrophils were associated with a high likelihood of bacterial infection.
- The NLR can indicate inflammation or infection, with higher ratios suggesting a greater likelihood of bacterial infection.
- The PLR may be reported as a marker for various inflammatory conditions, although its use is less common in routine CBC reports. These ratios are crucial in helping clinicians make more accurate diagnoses and develop appropriate treatment plans for patients, particularly in cases where individual cell counts may not be sufficient to identify underlying health issues.
From the Research
Ratios Reported in a CBC Report
The following ratios are typically reported in a Complete Blood Count (CBC) report:
- Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) 2, 3, 4
- Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) 2, 3
- Red cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio (RDW/PLT) 4
- Derived NLR (d-NLR = ANC/(WBC-ANC)) 3
Other CBC Components
In addition to these ratios, a CBC report may also include:
- White blood cell (WBC) count 2, 5, 3, 6
- Hemoglobin (Hb) level 2, 3, 6
- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 2, 6
- Red cell distribution width (RDW) 2, 6
- Platelet count 2, 5, 3, 6
- Mean platelet volume (MPV) 2
- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) 3
- Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) 3
- Absolute platelet count (APC) 3
Clinical Utility of CBC Ratios
These ratios and components can be useful in predicting and monitoring various diseases, including: