complete blood count CBC Flashcards
provides information about the number and types of cells in the body
CBC
components of CBC
- White blood cells (WBC)
- Red blood cells (RBC)
- Hemoglobin, hematocrit, red cell indices
- Platelets
critical WBC
Critical < 2000 and > 40,000
bone marrow failure, viral infection, aplastic anemia, vitamin
deficiencies, B12 or iron deficiences, autoimmune diseases, drug toxicity
Decreased (leukopenia)
inflammation, infection, leukemia, malignancies, vascular conditions,
tissue necrosis, steroids, stress from trauma, seizures/uncontrolled shivering, thyroid storm,
dehydration
Elevated (leukocytosis)
First responders to bacterial infections, commonly elevated in bacterial infections, trauma,
or stress
neutrophils
% of each type of leukocyte present
differential count
specific WBCs including granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils) and nongranulocytes (lymphocytes, monocytes)
differential
Elevated in allergies, asthma, and parasitic infections
eosinophils
Involved in inflammatory responses, rarely elevated but can be seen in chronic myelogenous
leukemia (CML)
basophils
Elevated in viral infections, chronic inflammation, or certain cancers (e.g., lymphocytic leukemia)
lymphocytes
Engulf pathogens, increased in chronic infections, tuberculosis, and certain leukemias
monocytes
mature, have a segmented nucleus
Segmented neutrophils
- Most common type
- Produced in 7-14 days, only live for 6 hours
- Function = phagocytosis (pacman)
- Neutrophilia = elevated, inflammation (RA, thyroiditis), Cushing syndrome
- Neutropenia = decreased, drugs, chemo/radiation, anaplastic anemia, viral infections
(measles, hepatitis, influenza) - Leukocytosis + Neutrophilia = SEPTIC BILLS
o Severe bacterial infection, Exercise, Postsplenectomy, Trauma, Inflammation, Corticosteroids, Burns,
Infarction, Leukemia, Loss of blood, Surgery/smoking
neutrophils
- Indicates a patient’s real risk of infection
- Calculated by:
- ANC = WBC x (% neutrophils + bands)
- Normal value: 2500 – 8000
- < 1,000 indicates immunosuppression
- Patient should be isolated as he/she is at a high risk for infection
Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC)
less mature, have a unsegmented nucleus shaped like a C
or S
band neutrophils
elevated in allergies ranging from seasonal allergies to allergic reactions
o Carry enzymes and proteins that are released to destroy what the body flags as harmful
o Eosinophilia = too many eosinophils, can cause inflammation leading to swelling, itching, rashes, wheezing
o Specific conditions like eosinophilic esophagitis = chronic allergic condition that causes inflammation of
esophagus
eosinophils
increase in immature cells (stab cells, band neutrophils =
bandemia)
o When the bone marrow is stimulated to release neutrophils at a rate faster than it can
produce them, it releases them at increasingly more immature stages
o Bacterial infection, inflammation, tissue damage
o Large = severe infection, the infection is depleting the first responders quicker than the
body can release them
o Labs will show an elevated neutrophil band count
left shift
helps fight against allergens, parasites, and pathogens
o Largest granulocyte, but least common
o Allergic reactions = basophils release histamine during allergic reactions to improve blood flow to
damaged tissue
o Asthma = Basophils release enzymes during asthma attacks
o Blood clotting = Basophils release heparin to prevent blood clots
* They do not change due to bacterial or viral infections
basophils
- Produced in bone marrow
- Divided into T cells and B cells
- T cells
- Cellular-type reactions
- Killer cells, suppressor, and T4 helper cells
- B cells
- Antibody production to attack bacteria, viruses, and toxins
- Cellular memory: Lymphocytes recognize pathogens they’ve been exposed to before and
reproduce to fight them off - Seen in chronic bacterial and acute viral infections
lymphocytes
- Similar to neutrophils with phagocytosis
- Largest WBC
- Last longer in circulation
- Search and destroy pathogens and infected cells
- During an inflammatory response they produce cytokines to help control infection
- Help engulf dead or damaged cells and help facilitate regeneration of injured tissue
monocytes
Direct count of RBCs
Used to assess overall RBC production and size
* Normal 3.9-5.5 x 106/μL
* Decreased = all types of anemias
* Increased = may be erroneously high with elevated WBCs, polycythemia vera, OSA
RBCs
- Normal male 40-54%, female 36-48%
- Percentage of red blood cells in a venous blood sample
- 45% = 45% cells, 55% plasma
- Hemodilution = fluid overloaded with crystalloids = low Hct
Hemoglobin (Hgb) - Normal males 13.8-17.2 g/dL and females 12.1-15.1 g/dL
- Protein that carries oxygen to the cells and CO2 back to lungs
- Elevated = hemoconcentration = dehydration, burns, vomiting
- Decreased = anemia
H/H
Hematocrit (Hct)
The average size of red blood cells
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)