Some blasts stay in the marrow to mature and others travel to other parts of the body to develop into mature, functioning blood cells. The primary function of red blood cells, or erythrocytes, is to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide. The primary function of white blood cells, or leukocytes, is to fight infection. There are several types of white blood cells and each has its own role in fighting bacterial, viral, fungi, and parasitic infections. The primary function of platelets, or thrombocytes, is blood clotting.
Platelets are much smaller in size than the other blood cells.
They group together to form clumps, or a plug, in the hole of a vessel to stop bleeding. A complete blood cell count is a measurement of size, number, and maturity of the different blood cells in a specific volume of blood. A complete blood cell count can be used to determine many abnormalities with either the production or destruction of blood cells. Variations from the normal number, size, or maturity of the blood cells can be used to indicate an infection or disease process. Often with an infection, the number of white blood cells will be elevated.