Glossary

Platelet (thrombocyte) count. Platelets (thrombocytes) are the smallest type of blood cell. They play a major role in blood clotting. When bleeding occurs, the platelets swell, clump together, and form a sticky plug that helps stop the bleeding. If there are too few platelets, uncontrolled bleeding may be a problem. If there are too many…

Red blood cell indices. There are three red blood cell indices: mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). They are measured by a machine and their values are determined from other measurements noted during a CBC. The MCV shows the size of the red blood cells. The MCH…

Hemoglobin (Hgb). Hemoglobin is the major substance in a red blood cells. It carries oxygen and gives the blood cell it’s red color. The hemoglobin test measures the amount of hemoglobin in blood and is a good indication of the blood’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body. This is part of the CBC –…

Red blood cell (RBC) count. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. They also help carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs so it can be exhaled. The red blood cell count shows the number of red blood cells in a sample of blood. If the RBC count…

White blood cell types (WBC differential). There are five major kinds of white blood cells: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Immature neutrophils, called band neutrophils, are also included and counted as part of this test. Each type of cell plays a different role in protecting the body. The numbers of each one of these…

White blood cell (WBC) count. White blood cells protect the body against infection. If an infection develops, white blood cells attack and destroy the bacteria, virus, or other organism causing it. White blood cells are bigger than red blood cells and normally fewer in number. When a person has a bacterial infection, the number of…

A complete blood count (CBC) provides important information about the kinds and numbers of cells in the blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A CBC can help a health professional evaluate symptoms (such as weakness, fatigue, or bruising) and diagnose conditions (such as anemia, infection, and many other disorders). A CBC test…

Hematocrit is the percentage of the volume of a blood sample occupied by cells, as determined by a centrifuge or device which separates the cells and other particulate elements of the blood from the plasma. The remaining fraction of the blood sample is called plasmocrit (blood plasma volume). This is part of the CBC –…

Human Leukocyte Antigen – HLA, the proteins present on the surface of the white blood cell, and most other cells of the body, which allow the human body to recognize self versus non-self. More web definitions via Google here. More via Wikipedia here.