Normal Lab Value Ranges in a Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Differential
The normal reference ranges for a Complete Blood Count (CBC) with differential include hemoglobin 12-16 g/dL for women and 13.5-17.5 g/dL for men, white blood cells 4,500-11,000/μL, and platelets 150,000-450,000/μL, with specific ranges for each cell type in the differential. 1
Red Blood Cell Parameters
Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
- Men: 4.5-5.9 million cells/μL
- Women: 4.0-5.2 million cells/μL
Hemoglobin (Hgb)
- Men: 13.5-17.5 g/dL
- Women: 12.0-16.0 g/dL
Hematocrit (Hct)
- Men: 41-50%
- Women: 36-48%
Red Cell Indices
- Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): 80-100 fL
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH): 27-31 pg
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC): 32-36 g/dL
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW): 11.5-14.5%
Reticulocyte Count: 0.5-2.5% of RBCs
White Blood Cell Parameters
Total White Blood Cell (WBC) Count: 4,500-11,000 cells/μL
WBC Differential
- Neutrophils: 40-60% (1,800-7,800 cells/μL)
- Lymphocytes: 20-40% (1,000-4,800 cells/μL)
- Monocytes: 2-8% (200-800 cells/μL)
- Eosinophils: 1-4% (0-450 cells/μL)
- Basophils: 0.5-1% (0-200 cells/μL)
- Bands (immature neutrophils): 0-5% (0-700 cells/μL)
Platelet Parameters
- Platelet Count: 150,000-450,000/μL
- Mean Platelet Volume (MPV): 7.5-11.5 fL
Interpretation Considerations
- Age-related variations: CBC values change throughout life, with different reference ranges for neonates, children, adults, and elderly
- Sex differences: Women typically have lower hemoglobin, hematocrit, and RBC counts than men
- Pregnancy: Causes physiologic anemia due to plasma volume expansion
- Altitude: Higher elevations increase RBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values
- Ethnicity: Some parameters vary by ethnic background (e.g., lower WBC counts in individuals of African descent)
Clinical Applications
- CBC results should be interpreted in clinical context, as values can be affected by numerous factors including hydration status, medications, and underlying medical conditions 1
- When immunophenotyping is performed alongside a CBC, absolute lymphocyte subset values can be calculated by multiplying the lymphocyte subset percentage (from flow cytometry) by the absolute number of lymphocytes (from CBC and differential) 2
- Abnormalities in multiple cell lines (two or more of WBC, RBC, platelets) warrant careful evaluation and may require hematology consultation 1
Sample Collection and Stability
- CBC specimens are typically collected in EDTA (lavender-top) tubes
- Most CBC parameters remain stable for 24 hours at room temperature, except for optical platelet count 3
- At refrigerated temperatures (4°C), most CBC parameters remain stable for up to 72 hours 3
- For accurate results, samples should be processed as soon as possible after collection