Complete Blood Count (CBC)
The workhorse blood test: one sample screens for anaemia, infection and platelet problems the same day.
The complete blood count is the most frequently ordered blood test in medicine because one small sample counts and sizes every major cell type in your blood. Red cells and haemoglobin show whether you are anaemic and hint at why — small pale cells point towards iron deficiency, oversized ones towards B12 or folate shortage. White cells rise in bacterial infection and shift in pattern with viral illness, and platelets — the clotting cells — matter enormously in dengue season, when their fall must be tracked day by day.
Because the CBC touches so many systems, it is often the first test Dr. Khanna orders for tiredness, prolonged fever or general 'not feeling right'. The sample is processed in our own laboratory in SGM Nagar, most routine reports come the same day, and during fever season a same-day platelet count is not a convenience but a genuine safety margin.
Who should consider this
- Fever lasting more than two to three days, especially in dengue and monsoon season when platelet tracking matters
- Tiredness, breathlessness on climbing stairs, or pale skin and nails that suggest anaemia
- Women with heavy periods, and vegetarians — two groups where iron and B12 deficiency quietly accumulate
- Frequent infections, mouth ulcers or unusual bruising and bleeding gums
- Before planned surgery or a procedure, where doctors need baseline counts
- As part of a routine annual check-up, where it serves as a broad first screen
How to prepare
No special preparation needed
- You can eat and drink normally — fasting is not required for a CBC
- Come at any time of day; morning is convenient if the CBC is being clubbed with fasting tests
- Carry previous CBC reports if you have them — a falling haemoglobin trend says more than one value
- Tell us if you are on blood thinners or have a bleeding tendency, so the draw site is pressed a little longer
What happens at the clinic
A single small blood sample is taken from a vein in the arm — the needle is in for well under a minute, and the whole visit for just the test rarely exceeds ten minutes. There is nothing to hold still for and no waiting between steps; the tube goes straight to our own laboratory in the same building for processing.
Your report, and what happens next
Routine CBC reports are usually ready the same day. If everything is normal, that itself is useful — a whole family of causes is crossed off. If something is off, the pattern guides the next step: low haemoglobin may lead to an iron or B12 test, a high white count to treating the infection, a low platelet count in fever to a repeat CBC in 24–48 hours to watch the trend. Dr. Khanna explains the report at the same desk, so you leave knowing what the numbers mean, not just holding them.
What it costs
A CBC on its own is one of the least expensive blood tests there is. The bill changes when it is combined with related tests — iron studies, B12, or a fever panel — and those bundles usually cost less than ordering each test separately across multiple visits.
Call +91 73148 55445 for today's rate — it takes a minute and there are no surprise charges. During fever season, if daily platelet monitoring is advised, ask about repeat-test arrangements when you call.
Common questions
Do I need to fast before a CBC?
No — food does not meaningfully change your cell counts, so come as you are. If your doctor has clubbed the CBC with a fasting sugar or lipid profile, then fast for those tests and the CBC simply rides along on the same sample.
Why does my doctor repeat the CBC every day during dengue?
In dengue, platelets can fall quickly during the critical phase, usually as the fever settles, and the direction of the trend matters more than any single number. A daily count catches a dangerous fall early, while it can still be managed calmly. Same-day reporting is what makes that watch practical.
My haemoglobin is low. Does that always mean iron tablets?
Not always. Iron deficiency is the commonest cause, but B12 or folate shortage, chronic disease and blood loss produce low haemoglobin too, and each is treated differently. The CBC's cell-size details usually point to the culprit, and a follow-up test confirms it before treatment starts.
How fast will I get the report?
Most routine CBC reports are ready the same day, because the sample is processed in our own laboratory rather than sent out. If you need it urgently — a sick child, a fever being monitored — tell us when the sample is taken and we will prioritise it.
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