Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR)

The Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test includes a complete blood count (CBC) test and an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test. The CBC test provides information about blood cells, and the ESR test determines the presence of inflammation in the body. Together, these help assess your overall health.

The blood consists of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets that perform important bodily functions. RBCs are the most abundant cells in the blood that consist of a protein called hemoglobin. This protein helps transport oxygen throughout the body. WBCs are the components of the immune system and help protect the body against infections and cancers. Platelets are responsible for blood clotting and controlling bleeding. Therefore, determining the levels of these cells can provide significant health information.

Your doctor may advise the Complete Hemogram (CBC & ESR) test if you show symptoms like weakness, fever, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, joint stiffness, shoulder pain, or bruising. This test may also help screen, detect, and monitor medical conditions like infections, nutritional deficiencies, anemia, bleeding disorders, and blood cancers. Furthermore, It also allows the doctor to monitor existing blood disorders and ongoing treatments of conditions that affect your blood cells, like inflammatory diseases and chemotherapy. No special preparation is needed for a hemogram test. You can eat or drink normally as per your daily routine. However, talk to the doctor about all the pre-test instructions.

Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between labs depending on the methodology and laboratory guidelines. Talk to your doctor about your specific test results. Narrate your complete medical history to help the doctor correlate your clinical and laboratory findings. The test results will help them determine your medical condition, make recommendations for lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise, decide whether or not medication will be required to manage your condition and formulate your overall treatment plan.