CBC normal range: how to read your blood count report
A CBC (complete blood count, often called CP in Pakistan) measures red cells, white cells and platelets. Typical adult ranges are haemoglobin 13.5 to 17.5 g/dL in men and 12 to 15.5 in women, WBC 4,000 to 11,000, platelets 150,000 to 400,000 and MCV 80 to 100 fL. Your lab prints its own ranges, and your doctor reads the report as a whole.
Red cells: Hb, RBC, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC
| Test | Typical adult range | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Hemoglobin (Hb) | Men 13.5 to 17.5 g/dL; women 12.0 to 15.5 g/dL | Oxygen-carrying protein. Low = anaemia |
| RBC count | Men 4.5 to 5.9; women 4.1 to 5.1 (× 10¹²/L) | Number of red cells. High with low MCV can mean thalassaemia trait |
| Hematocrit (HCT / PCV) | Men 41 to 53%; women 36 to 46% | Share of blood made of red cells. Rises with dehydration and in dengue |
| MCV | 80 to 100 fL | Size of red cells. Low: iron deficiency or thalassaemia trait. High: B12 or folate deficiency, alcohol, liver or thyroid problems |
| MCH | 27 to 33 pg | Haemoglobin per red cell. Low in iron deficiency and thalassaemia trait |
| MCHC | 32 to 36 g/dL | Haemoglobin concentration in red cells. Low in iron deficiency |
| RDW | 11.5 to 14.5% | Variation in red cell size. Often high in iron deficiency |
White cells and platelets
| Test | Typical adult range | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Total WBC (TLC) | 4.0 to 11.0 × 10⁹/L | High: infection, inflammation, steroids. Low: some viral fevers (including dengue and typhoid), some medicines |
| Neutrophils | 40 to 75% (2.0 to 7.5 × 10⁹/L) | High in bacterial infection; low in some viral infections |
| Lymphocytes | 20 to 45% (1.0 to 4.0 × 10⁹/L) | High in many viral infections |
| Monocytes | 2 to 10% | Raised in some longer-lasting infections |
| Eosinophils | 1 to 6% | High in allergy, asthma and worm infections |
| Basophils | 0 to 1% | Rarely important on its own |
| Platelets | 150 to 400 × 10⁹/L (150,000 to 400,000) | Low: dengue, some viral fevers, some medicines. High: iron deficiency, inflammation |
Ranges for children and pregnancy are different. Units vary between labs: 4.0 × 10⁹/L is the same as 4,000 per µL.
Common CBC patterns, and what usually comes next
- Low Hb, low MCV, high RDW: usually iron deficiency. Next: ferritin. See hemoglobin normal range.
- Low MCV, high RBC count, Hb only a little low: possible thalassaemia trait. Next: ferritin and Hb electrophoresis.
- Low Hb, high MCV: possible B12 or folate deficiency. Next: B12 and folate levels. See vitamin B12.
- Fever with low WBC, falling platelets and rising HCT: typical of dengue. Next: dengue NS1 or antibody test and daily CBC as your doctor advises. See dengue diet.
- High WBC with high neutrophils: often a bacterial infection; your doctor decides on tests and treatment.
- High eosinophils: allergy, asthma or worms, which are common in children.
- ESR or CRP on the same report: these are inflammation markers, not part of the blood count. See ESR and CRP normal range.
Diet when the CBC shows a nutritional cause
Iron deficiency improves with haem iron (meat, chicken, fish, eggs), daal and greens eaten with lemon or fruit, and chai kept an hour away from meals; see iron-rich foods. B12 comes only from animal foods (eggs, milk, dahi, meat, fish), so vegetarians and people on long-term metformin often need a supplement. Folate is in daal, chana, palak, saag and oranges. During fever or dengue, the focus is fluids and easy food; see the dengue diet.
See a doctor first if
- Platelets below 100,000, or any fall in platelets with bleeding, vomiting or severe belly pain
- Hb below 8 g/dL, or breathlessness, chest pain or fainting
- WBC very high or very low, or with a fever that will not settle
- Several parts of the CBC are abnormal at the same time
Common questions
What is a CBC test?
A CBC (complete blood count), also called a full blood count or CP (complete picture) in many Pakistani labs, counts the red cells, white cells and platelets in your blood and measures haemoglobin. It is used to look for anaemia, infection, dengue and many other conditions. No fasting is needed.
What is the normal WBC count?
For adults it is usually 4,000 to 11,000 per microlitre (4.0 to 11.0 × 10⁹/L). A high count most often means infection or inflammation; a low count can happen in some viral fevers such as dengue and typhoid, and with some medicines.
What is the normal platelet count?
Usually 150,000 to 400,000 per microlitre. In dengue platelets often fall, especially from day 3 to day 7 of fever. Most people recover without a transfusion, but a falling count with warning signs (bleeding, severe belly pain, vomiting, drowsiness) needs hospital care. Papaya leaf juice and kiwi do not replace medical care.
What do low MCV and MCH mean?
Small, pale red cells. The two common causes in Pakistan are iron deficiency and thalassaemia trait. Ferritin separates them: low in iron deficiency, normal in thalassaemia trait. Thalassaemia trait needs no iron unless iron is also low, but it matters for family planning, so Hb electrophoresis is advised.
What does a high MCV mean?
Large red cells. Common causes are vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, alcohol, liver disease, an underactive thyroid and some medicines. Strict vegetarians and people on long-term metformin or acid medicines should have B12 checked.
Can diet fix an abnormal CBC?
Only when the cause is nutritional: iron, B12 or folate deficiency. Food then helps prevent it coming back, usually alongside supplements your doctor prescribes. Infection, dengue, thalassaemia and blood disorders need medical treatment; diet only supports recovery.
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