What is a complete blood count (CBC) commonly used for?

A complete blood count (CBC) is a commonly used diagnostic test that provides critical information about a person's overall health and helps detect a variety of disorders. It measures several components of blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. Each of these components can offer insights into different health issues.

For example, an elevated white blood cell count may indicate an infection, while a low red blood cell count could suggest anemia. The CBC also helps monitor the body’s response to treatment in certain conditions or after procedures. Essentially, it serves as a general screening tool that aids healthcare providers in identifying potential health problems that may require further investigation or intervention.

Other options like measuring cholesterol levels, evaluating liver enzymes, or analyzing urine composition fall outside the scope of a CBC. Each of these tests targets specific areas of health, but they do not provide the broad overview of overall health and potential disorders that a CBC does.