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Medical Author:

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Dr. Nabili received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. He then completed his graduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His graduate training included a specialized fellowship in public health where his research focused on environmental health and health-care delivery and management.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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The complete blood count values are usually reported based on the number of cells in a specific volume of blood. The normal values may differ slightly based on the reference range and the machine used in the laboratory and, therefore, the results may be slightly different from one laboratory to the next. The normal reference range is typically provided and printed with the results of complete blood count for accurate interpretation.

The following lists some of the typical values of the components of the complete blood count:

• WBC (white blood cell) count signifies the number of white blood cells in the blood and usually ranges between 4,300 and 10,800 cells per cubic millimeter (cmm). The cells in the WBC differential are typically listed separately.
  
  
• RBC (red blood cell) count measures the number of red blood cells in a volume of blood and usually ranges between 4.2 to 5.9 million cells per cmm.
  
  
• Hemoglobin (Hbg) measures the amount of hemoglobin molecule in a volume of blood and typically measures 13 to 18 grams per deciliter (one-hundredth of a liter) for men and 12 to 16 grams per deciliter for women.
  
  
• Hematocrit (Hct) signifies the percentage of the whole blood occupied by red blood cells and usually ranges between 45%-52% for men and 37%-48% for women.
  
  
• Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is the measurement of the average size or volume of a typical red blood cell in a blood sample and usually ranges between 80 to 100 femtoliters (a fraction of one-millionth of a liter).
  
  
• Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) measures the amount of hemoglobin in an average red blood cell and usually ranges between 27 to 32 picograms (a small fraction of a gram).
  
  
• Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) measures the average hemoglobin concentration in a volume of blood, and it usually ranges between 32%-36%.
  
  
• Red cell distribution width (RDW) measures the variability in the red blood cells' size and shape and usually ranges between 11 to 15.
  
  
• Platelet count measures the number of platelets in a volume of blood and usually ranges between 150,000 to 400,000 per cmm.
  
  
• Mean platelet volume (MPV) measures the average size of platelets in a volume of blood. The normal range is between 6 to 12 femtoliters (a very small fraction of a liter).

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See the Entire Complete Blood Count (CBC) Topic Guide »