Understanding your results
Common terms and numbers you may see on a CBC report and what they mean are on this chart:
| Test Name | Units* | Normal values# | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| WBC (white blood cells) | x 1000/mm3 | 5–10 | Number of infection-fighting cells |
| RBC (red blood cells) | x 1,000,000/mm3 | 4.2–6.1 | Number of RBCs |
| Hgb (hemoglobin) | g/dL | 12–18 | Measure of RBCs, which carry oxygen and carbon dioxide |
| Hct (hematocrit) | % | 37–52 | Percentage of blood made up of RBCs |
| Plt (platelets) | x 1,000/mm3 | 150–450 | Number of platelets. This number helps show risk of bleeding |
| BMI (Body Mass Index) | kg/m2 | 18-25 | Classification of body weight |
| BP (Blood pressure) | mmHg | <120 systolic (top number); <80 diastolic (bottom number) | Force used by the hearth to circulate blood |
| Glucose (sugar) | mmol | <5.6 | Level of sugar in blood |
| Cholesterol | mmol | <5.2 | Level of fat in blood |
Note that results are often given in short form, as shown on this table. For instance, a WBC result may be shown as 6.2 rather than 6,200, which is why the Units column shows multiplying by 1000 (x 1000), sometimes abbreviated as K.
RBCs are often shown as multiples of a million, sometimes abbreviated as M. The /mm3 stands for cubic millimeter, which is the same as µL (microliter). Grams is shown by the letter g, and dL means deciliter.
# These numbers range vary somewhat among labs. By getting a copy, you can also see what the normal ranges are for the lab that tested your blood and where your numbers fall within that range.