The complete blood count, or CBC, is the blood test doctors ask for most, and you can get it at our Marulas branch in Valenzuela. It is quick, needs only a small sample, and gives your doctor a broad picture of your health.
In short
- A CBC counts your red cells, white cells and platelets.
- A CBC on its own needs no fasting.
- Results are usually released the same day.
What a CBC measures
A CBC counts the three main kinds of cells in your blood.
- Red cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit carry oxygen. Low numbers can mean anemia.
- White blood cells fight infection. A high count often means an infection.
- Platelets help your blood clot. Doctors watch them closely in dengue.
When doctors ask for it
A CBC is part of most check-ups and pre-employment medicals, and of pre-surgery clearances. Your doctor may also request it for a fever that will not go away, unusual tiredness, easy bruising or bleeding, or to monitor a condition you already have.
How to prepare
A CBC on its own needs no fasting, so you can eat and drink as usual. If it was ordered with a fasting blood sugar or a lipid profile, follow our guide on how to prepare for a fasting blood test.
Reading your results
Your result sheet shows each value beside a reference range, and values outside it are usually marked. Ranges differ by laboratory, age and sex, so compare your numbers only with the range on your own result.
A value slightly outside the range is not always a problem, and a normal CBC does not rule out every illness. Bring the result to the doctor who requested it, who reads it with your symptoms and history.
Getting a CBC at Sunrise
Walk in to our Marulas branch with your doctor’s request; the blood draw takes a few minutes, and results are usually released the same day. Call our Happy Go Mall branch first to check which tests are done there, or see all our laboratory tests.
Tests mentioned in this article
This article is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor.
More health guides
Check-ups and consultations · 3 min read
Annual physical exam: what it includes and how to prepare
What a yearly physical exam usually includes, how to prepare, what to bring and when results are ready.
Check-ups and consultations · 3 min read
Employee medical checkups: what they include and why they matter
What a workplace medical checkup usually includes, why it matters for employees and employers, and how to prepare.
Check-ups and consultations · 3 min read
Health screenings for seniors: which tests matter as you age
Which health screenings matter as you age, from blood pressure and blood sugar to cholesterol and kidney tests, and how often to have them.
Call before you come, or just walk in
Our front desk can tell you if your test needs fasting, which doctor is in today, and what your HMO covers.