Full blood count - what it tells your doctor about your health
Channel: Pathology Tests Explained
Date: 2023-03-13

In this short video, an expert explains what the Full Blood Count (FBC) blood test measures and how it can help in diagnosing your illness and monitoring your treatment. The aim is to help you understand why your doctor might have ordered it and what your test results can show. The FBC is a commonly ordered test and used in many situations including helping to diagnose:
• infection 
• anaemia 
• blood cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma
• bone marrow disorders
• myeloproliferative disorders
• iron deficiency 
• thalassaemia
• vitamin B12 and folate deficiency 
• autoimmune conditions, and to
• monitor the response to some types of drug or radiation treatment 
• determine the severity of a blood loss 
• investigate a history of abnormal bleeding or clotting 

This video helps you understand your test results and shows an example of a test results form to talk about haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, Mean Cell Volume, macrocytic cells and platelets.