A full blood count (FBC), also known as a complete blood count (CBC), is a common blood test that measures the number, types, and sizes of different cells in your blood. The test is used to provide information about a range of conditions, including anemia, infection, leukemia, and blood cancers. A complete blood count measures the following:

• Red blood cells (RBCs), which carry oxygen
• White blood cells (WBCs), which fight infection
• Hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in RBCs
• Hematocrit, the amount of RBCs in the blood
• Platelets, which help blood to clot

In addition to these measurements, a complete blood count can also provide information about the physical features of RBCs, such as mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) . A CBC can help detect a variety of disorders, including infections, anemia, diseases of the immune system, and blood cancers. It can also be used to monitor treatment with medicines that affect blood cell counts and radiation. A full blood count is a very common test that can be used to screen for, diagnose, and monitor a variety of conditions.