Basic Anemia Panel

CBC w/ Differential

A complete blood count (CBC) is a laboratory test that measures several basic parameters of human blood including the red blood cell counts (erythrocytes), white blood cell counts (leukocytes) and platelets (thrombocytes). A CBC with differential is often ordered to determine a patient’s general health status. These values help medical professionals diagnose certain diseases and conditions in the human body. This test is frequently ordered in addition to other basic lab tests for routine physical exams.

SPECIFIC TESTS IN A COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT

• White blood cell (WBC) count
• White blood cell differential
• Red blood cell (RBC) count
• Hemoglobin
• Hematocrit
• Platelet count
• Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
• Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
• Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
• Red cell distribution width (RDW)

Ferritin

• The ferritin test measures the level of ferritin, the major iron storage protein in the body.
• The ferritin test is a simple blood test.
• High levels of ferritin can indicate an iron storage disorder, such as hemochromatosis, or a chronic disease process.
• Low levels of ferritin are indicative of iron deficiency, which causes anemia (a reduction in the number of red blood cells).

Iron/TIBC

Useful for the diagnosis of anemia and to evaluate iron toxicity (from ingestion). Iron deficiency and iron overload are the major disorders of iron metabolism, however, altered iron metabolism has been observed or shown to be related to a number of other diseases including anemia, cardiovascular disease, chronic hepatitis, end-stage renal disease, HIV infection, and other infections.

Reticulocyte Count

A blood test that measures how fast red blood cells called reticulocytes are made by the bone marrow and released into the blood.