Why Hemogram is so frequently prescribed ?

A Hemogram test also called as Complete Blood Count (CBC) test is performed on your blood sample. It is recommended when a person suffers from an infection or disease to check the increase or decrease in the amount of blood components.

These Blood Components are examined!

The amount of blood components tells us about the health status of a person. As during any disease imbalance of these cells are experienced. Because the levels of these components in the blood guides us about the type of infection a person is suffering from, this test serves as a desirable tool to judge a disease and also its progress. Three most important blood constituents are:

1. White Blood Cells (WBC)-

These cells fight against infectious agents and makes our immune system

  • Low Blood count indicates: Dietary deficiency, diseases of immune system (HIV/AIDS), sepsis (severe infection), bone marrow (spongy tissue inside bones) disorders and blood cancer.
  • High blood count indicates: Allergies, bacterial or viral infection, advance stages of blood and bone marrow cancers.

2. Red blood cells (RBC)-

These cells contain hemoglobin which transports oxygen throughout the body.

  • Low Blood count indicates: Bleeding, destruction of RBCs, nutritional deficiency and serious kidney diseases.
  • High blood count indicates: Dehydration, lung diseases and polycythemia vera (blood cancer in which too many blood cells are produced).

3. Platelets-

These cells play an important role in clotting of blood in case of injury and helps to stop excessive blood loss.

  • Low Blood count indicates: Viral infection, rocky mountain spotted fever, cirrhosis, autoimmune (Condition in which immune system attacks our own cells) and blood cancer.
  • High blood count indicates: Hemolytic (destruction of RBCs) anemia, iron deficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and cancer of lung, breast, ovary, stomach and intestine.

What can affect your Results ?

A recent blood transfusions may affect the count of RBCs, WBCs and platelets. Another factor which can disturb the test results is when blood sample is collected from the same drip from which the patient has been injected with antibiotics or saline. Results of CBC count is different for babies, children and adults too.

A hemogram is also suggested by physicians to monitor the effect of medication during the treatment.

A simple test yet enormously informative... Hemogram test is able to identify many illness...