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Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Medical Author: Siamak Nabili, MD, MPH
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

What Does a High White Platelet Count Mean?

Medical Author: Benjamin Wedro, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test used to assist in diagnosing certain diseases and conditionsViewer Question: What are some of the potential diagnoses when a person has a high platelet count? (Platelet count approximately 420?)

Dr. Stöppler's Response: Platelets are the smallest cell-like structures in the blood and are important for blood clotting and plugging damaged blood vessels. Platelet counts are usually done by laboratory machines that also count other blood elements such as the white and red cells. Normal platelet counts are in the range of 150,000 to 400,000 per microliter (or 150 - 400 x 109 per liter), but the normal range for the platelet count varies slightly among different laboratories.

Read more about high platelet count »

What is the complete blood count test (CBC)?

The complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered blood tests. The complete blood count is the calculation of the cellular (formed elements) of blood. These calculations are generally determined by special machines that analyze the different components of blood in less than a minute.

A major portion of the complete blood count is the measure of the concentration of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in the blood.

How is the complete blood count test (CBC) done?

The complete blood count (CBC) test is performed by obtaining a few milliliters (one to two teaspoons) of blood sample directly form the patient. It can be done in many settings including the doctor's office,  laboratories, and hospitals. The skin is wiped clean with an alcohol pad, and then a needle is inserted through the area of cleansed skin into to patient's vein (one that can be visualized from the skin.) The blood is then pulled from the needle by a syringe or by a connection to a special vacuumed vial where it is collected. This sample is then taken to the laboratory for analysis.




Next: What are the components of the complete blood count (CBC)? »

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Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Thrombocytopenia (Low Platelet Count) »

What is thrombocytopenia?

Thrombocytopenia is a lower than normal number of platelets in the blood.

Platelets are one of the components of the blood along with white and red blood cells. Platelets play an important role in clotting and bleeding. Platelets are made in the bone marrow similar to other cells in the blood such as, white blood cells and red blood cells. Platelets originate from megakaryocytes which are large cells found in the bone marrow. The fragments of these megakaryocytes are platelets that are released into the blood stream. The circulating platelets make up about two third of the platelets that are released from the bone marrow. The other one third is typically stored (sequestered) in the spleen.

Platelets, in general, have a brief 7 to 10 days life in the blood, after which they are removed from the blood circulation. The number of platelets in the blood is referred to as the platelet count and is normally betw...

Read the Thrombocytopenia (Low Platelet Count) article »









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