FBC Medical Abbreviation

Author:

Analgesia team

Last Updated on March 28, 2025 by Analgesia team

FBC | Full Blood Count: What it Can Diagnose

A full blood count (FBC), also known as a complete blood count (CBC), is a blood test that measures the number and types of cells in your blood.

Red blood cells: Carry oxygen
White blood cells: Fight infection
Platelets: Help blood clot
Hemoglobin: The oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells
Hematocrit: The amount of red blood cells in your blood

What can FBC help diagnose?

A full blood count can help diagnose and monitor many conditions, including:

- Anemia, which is a lack of red blood cells
- Infections and viral conditions, such as myocarditis
- Iron deficiency anemia or vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
- Bleeding or clotting disorders
- Sickle cell anemia and Bone marrow disorders.
- Kidney diseases

A full blood count can also help determine the cause of pain, swelling, bruising, or bleeding. In emergency medicine, it can help assess trauma and bleeding, and investigate symptoms like fever, shortness of breath, and abdominal pain.

A doctor or other medical professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm and send it to a lab for analysis. The results can help diagnose and monitor a wide range of conditions, including infections, anemia, leukemia, heart disease, and cancer.
Here are some things to keep in mind about FBCs:

FBC Normal ranges

The normal ranges for blood cells vary slightly between labs, but the amount of each type of cell usually stays the same for a healthy person.

A normal full blood count (FBC) for adults in the UK varies by test and sex.

Hemoglobin

Male: 130–180 g/L
Female: 115–150 g/L

White blood cell count

Adult: 4.0–10.0 x 109/L

Platelet count

Adult: 150–400 x 109/L

Red blood cell count

- Male: 4.50–6.50 x 1012/L
- Female: 3.80–5.80 x 1012/L

Hematocrit

Male: 0.40–0.54 L/L
Female: 0.37–0.47 L/L

Differential count

Neutrophils: 1.8–7.5 x 109/L
Lymphocytes: 1.0–4.0 x 109/L
Monocytes: 0.2–0.8 x 109/L
Eosinophils: 0.1–0.4 x 109/L
Basophils: 0.02–0.10 x 109/L

Abnormal results

Abnormal levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, or hematocrit could indicate dehydration, anemia, or heart disease. Low white blood cell counts could indicate an autoimmune disorder, bone marrow disorder, or cancer. High white blood cell counts could indicate an infection or a reaction to medication.

Test preparation

Your doctor may ask you to fast or avoid certain foods or supplements before your test. You should also let your doctor know about any medications you are taking.

Test results

You should discuss your test results with your doctor, who can interpret them and explain what they mean