FULL BLOOD COUNT (FBC)

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Specimen: 5 mL blood in EDTA; 2 mL blood in special paediatric EDTA tube.

Method: Automated analysers provide HAEMOGLOBIN , RED CELL COUNT , PACKED CELL VOLUME , MEAN CELL VOLUME , MEAN CELL HAEMOGLOBIN , MEAN CELL HAEMOGLOBIN CONCENTRATION , LEUCOCYTE COUNT (white cell count), and PLATELET COUNT as FBC. Some haematology analysers also provide a LEUCOCYTE DIFFERENTIAL COUNT and a number of derived parameters; see also RED CELL DISTRIBUTION WIDTH , PLATELET INDICES . A blood film will be examined if indicated from FBC results; see BLOOD FILM .

Application: See individual test entries.

Interpretation: See individual test entries.

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