Which statement best describes the purpose of a CBC?

Which statement best describes the purpose of a CBC?

• A. Measures metabolic panel including electrolytes
• B. Detects urinary tract infections
• C. Evaluates red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
• D. Determines lipid levels

Answer: (C)

A CBC is a test that focuses on the cellular components of blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It provides numbers and characteristics such as red cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC), plus the white cell count with a differential and the platelet count. Together these data help you detect and evaluate conditions like anemia (low red cells or abnormal indices), infection or inflammation (elevated or abnormal white cells), and bleeding or clotting problems (low platelets or abnormal platelet size). It’s not used to measure metabolic substances like electrolytes (that’s a metabolic panel), it doesn’t assess urinary infections (that would be urine analysis/culture), and it doesn’t determine lipid levels (that would be a lipid panel).

A CBC is a test that focuses on the cellular components of blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It provides numbers and characteristics such as red cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC), plus the white cell count with a differential and the platelet count. Together these data help you detect and evaluate conditions like anemia (low red cells or abnormal indices), infection or inflammation (elevated or abnormal white cells), and bleeding or clotting problems (low platelets or abnormal platelet size).

It’s not used to measure metabolic substances like electrolytes (that’s a metabolic panel), it doesn’t assess urinary infections (that would be urine analysis/culture), and it doesn’t determine lipid levels (that would be a lipid panel).