Complete blood count testing is a fairly standard assessment that is made to gain additional insight about a variety of conditions that can affect your child’s blood cells or other components of their blood. Such components include:
- Red blood cells
- White blood cells
- Blood platelets
- Hemoglobin
Why would we order a CBC test for your child?
Most often, a complete blood count will be used to evaluate potential health concerns such as anemia, infection, cancer of the blood (leukemia), and many other bleeding disorders. This test can also determine the effectiveness of current treatments being performed for these types of illnesses.
Many patients will complete regular CBC tests in order to monitor a known condition. Even if a child’s symptoms do not worsen, this blood test is recommended to alert the pediatrician of any present or potential risks associated with the patient’s blood cell count.
What Happens During the Test?
A complete blood count is really quite simple. Patients are not restricted from any particular food or drink prior to providing their blood sample, which is extracted using a basic needle and corresponding vile.
This sample is then sent to the lab for testing. You should expect to receive your child’s results no more than a few days after the blood was drawn.
If you still have questions or concerns regarding complete blood count testing or the conditions associated with this assessment, please contact Pediatrics West today by calling our office to schedule an appointment.
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