Understand hemoglobin, white blood cell and platelet results
A complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered blood tests. It measures several components of blood including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, and is used for routine health screening, monitoring of known conditions and investigation of symptoms.
Enter the values from your CBC report and select the correct unit for each measurement. The tool provides an educational interpretation of hemoglobin, white blood cell count and platelet count. An optional MCV field is also available if your report includes it. All interpretations include a clinical context reminder and should be read alongside guidance from your doctor.
Hemoglobin (Hb or HGB) is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body. Low hemoglobin is called anemia. Different reference ranges apply to men and women. Anemia ranges from mild to severe based on how low the value is. The cause of anemia cannot be determined from the hemoglobin value alone — further tests are usually needed to identify whether it is due to iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, blood loss, chronic disease or other causes.
This tool uses WHO-aligned severity categories: mild (11.0–12.9 g/dL in men, 11.0–11.9 g/dL in women), moderate (8.0–10.9 g/dL) and severe (below 8.0 g/dL). A value below 7.0 g/dL is considered markedly abnormal and warrants prompt medical assessment.
The white blood cell count (WBC, also called total leukocyte count or TLC) reflects the number of immune cells in the blood. The usual adult reference range is 4.0–11.0 ×10³/µL. Low values (leukopenia) and high values (leukocytosis) can occur in many conditions including infections, inflammation, medications and other medical conditions. The WBC count alone cannot diagnose a specific cause. Values below 1 or above 50 ×10³/µL are considered markedly abnormal.
Platelets (PLT) are small blood cells that help with clotting. The usual adult reference range is 150–450 ×10³/µL. Low counts (thrombocytopenia) and high counts (thrombocytosis) can occur in many different conditions. Markedly low platelet counts — particularly below 20 ×10³/µL — may be associated with bleeding risk and require prompt medical attention.
MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) describes the average size of red blood cells, measured in femtolitres (fL). Low MCV (microcytic, below 80 fL) is commonly seen in iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia. High MCV (macrocytic, above 100 fL) may occur in vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, among other causes. Normal MCV (normocytic, 80–100 fL) does not exclude anemia — the cause of anemia cannot be determined from MCV alone. MCV is a pattern descriptor, not a diagnosis.
Common questions about CBC results and this tool, answered by Sineth Hospitals.