COVID and CBC | Dr. Thind’s Homeopathy
By: Dr. Thind S Homeopathy
Tags: Treatment, Covid 19, Coronavirus, Covid, Covid 19 Testing

What is CBC? What is the relation between COVID and CBC? Why is the test done? Everything around this, that you should know, in this post and of course our doctors always there to help you.

What is CBC?

The complete blood count (CBC) is a group of tests that evaluate the cells that circulate in the blood which includes red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets (PLTs). The CBC can evaluate the overall health of a person and detect a variety of diseases and conditions, such as infections, anemia, and leukemia, etc. The Blood cells are produced and then, they mature in the bone marrow primarily and under normal circumstances are released into the bloodstream as required.

What is the function of RBC’s, WBC’s, and Platelets?

The three types of cells that can be evaluated by the CBC include:

1) RED BLOOD CELLS: Red blood cells are also known as erythrocytes, are produced in the bone marrow and then released into the bloodstream when they mature. They contain hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein that transports oxygen throughout the body. Many conditions can affect RBCs, such an example is Anemia which results from low red blood cell counts and low hemoglobin. Other diseases can also lead to anemia, so additional tests are often required to determine the cause.

2)WHITE BLOOD CELLS: White blood cells are also known as leukocytes. These are the cells that exist in the blood, the lymphatic system, and tissues and are an important part of the body’s natural defense (immune) system. These cells help in protecting against infections and also have a role in inflammation and allergic reactions. There are five different types of WBCs and each type has a different function. They include neutrophils, lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, and monocytes.

3)PLATELETS: Platelets are also known as thrombocytes. Platelets are the tiny cell fragments that circulate in the blood and are essential for normal blood clotting. When there is an injury and the bleeding begins, platelets help to stop the bleeding by adhering to the injury site and clumping together to form a temporary plug. They also release chemical signals that attract and help to promote the clumping of additional platelets and eventually become part of a stable blood clot at the site of the injury that remains in place until the injury heals. Therefore, platelets help to prevent the body from bleeding and bruising easily. This test is usually performed to check for a blood infection.

Which tests are included in a Complete blood count test?

A standard CBC includes:

1)Red blood cell (RBC) tests: Red blood cell tests further include:

a) Red blood cell (RBC) count

b)Hemoglobin

c)Hematocrit measures the percentage of your total blood volume that consists of red blood cells.

d)Red blood cell indices also provide information on the physical features of the RBCs:

* Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a calculated measurement of the average size of the red blood cells.

* Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is a calculated measurement of the average amount of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells.

* Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is a calculated measurement of the average concentration of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells.

2) White blood cell (WBC) tests: White blood cell tests further include:

a)White blood cell (WBC) count

b) White blood cell differential: The WBC differential identifies and counts the number of the five types of white blood cells present, that are-neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.

3) Platelet tests: Platelet tests further include:

a) Platelet count

b) Mean platelet volume (MPV) may be reported with a CBC. MPV is a calculated measurement of the average size of platelets.

How does Covid 19 affect the Complete blood count?

COVID-19 is a systemic infection with a significant impact on the hematopoietic system and hemostasis. Hematopoietic changes show decreased hemoglobin levels. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was also lower in adult COVID-19 patients and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was significantly higher in COVID-19 patients as compared to healthy individuals. This is most likely due to a decrease in hemoglobin levels. White blood cell numbers seem to be normal or decreased in COVID-19 patients and to increase with disease progression with some severe cases having leukocytosis. The neutrophil-lymphocyte-ratio (NLR) seems to be increased in patients with severe COVID-19. Lymphopenia may be considered as a cardinal laboratory finding, with prognostic potential. The platelet-lymphocyte-ratio (PLR) has also been considered as a parameter that indicates the severity of the infection. Platelets are normal or decreased in non-severe patients and significantly decreased in severe patients. Blood hypercoagulability is seen as common among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. In conclusion, hemocytometric changes, especially the presence of lymphopenia and increased neutrophil-lymphocyte-ratio, in patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus may help in diagnosing and predicting disease progression of COVID-19.