One of the most important blood tests that your doctor will order for you on a regular basis is called a complete blood count (CBC). While there are many different types of cells in your blood, they can all be grouped into one of three categories: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Knowing how many of these cells you have in a blood sample provides a lot of valuable information. The following sample lab report explains the importance of each blood-cell count and what an abnormal value might mean. Click on a test name in the left column to view an explanation of its significance & meaning. (note: to see and/or print a complete list of test name explanations, click here.)

Clinical Laboratory Report Patient Name Date Drawn Date Received Date of Report   DOE, JOHN     12/20/99     12/20/99       12/22/99   Sex Age Client Name / Address I.D. Number Account Number   M   31   MEDICAL CENTER   YOUR DOCTOR, M.D.   123 MAIN STREET   ANYTOWN     US        10023   78987654   12343 Ordering Physician Time Drawn   SMITH   123094567 Specimen Number   918273   11:00 Patient I.D./Soc. Sec Number     TEST NAME RESULT UNITS REFERENCE RANGE *   COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT W/ DIFF WBC 5 .2 Thous/cu.mm 3.9  - 11.1 RBC 3 .51  L Mil/cu.mm 4.20  - 5.70 HGB (HEMOGLOBIN) 14 .5 g/dL 13.2  - 16.9 HCT (HEMATOCRIT) 41 .2 Percent 38.5  - 49.0 MCV 117        H fl 80  - 97 MCH 41 .4    H pg 27.5  - 33.5 MCHC 35 .3 Percent 32.0  - 36.0 RDW 11 .8 Percent 11.0  - 15.0 PLATELET COUNT 172   Thous/cu.mm 140  - 390 MPV 7 .6 fl 7.5  - 11.5 DIFFERENTIAL    TOTAL NEUTROPHILS, % 40 .1 Percent 38.0  - 80.0    TOTAL LYMPHOCYTES, % 46 .1 Percent 15.0  - 49.0    MONOCYTES, % 12 .9 Percent 0.0  - 13.0    EOSINOPHILS, % 0 .6 Percent 0.0  - 8.0    BASOPHILS, % 0 .3 Percent 0.0  - 2.0    TOTAL NEUTROPHILS, ABSOLUTE 2085   Cells/cu.mm 1650  - 8000    TOTAL LYMPHOCYTES, ABSOLUTE 2397   Cells/cu.mm 1000  - 3500    MONOCYTES, ABSOLUTE 671   Cells/cu.mm 40  - 900    EOSINOPHILS, ABSOLUTE 31   Cells/cu.mm 30  - 600    BASOPHILS, ABSOLUTE 16   Cells/cu.mm 0  - 125

*NOTE: Reference Ranges shown are for adult males.
Some my vary slightly for women, children & adolescents.
Check your lab report for specific reference ranges.

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