CBC

130 3.7

A blood test that counts red and white blood cells and platelets

noun
/siː biː siː/

Specialized

: hemograma

Let's get the CBC, CMP, cardiac panel, and 12-lead EKG.
CBC data

Examples

We need CBC chem panel.

Halloween II (2009)
Get a CBC, a chest X-ray and an EKG.

Volcano (1997)
Did you do a CBC?

Love & Other Drugs (2010)
The CBC has also helped in understanding the spread of zoonoses.

Academic text (2007)
So I took a look at Kate's CBC.

My Sister's Keeper (2009)
I need CBC, differential, platelets.

As Good as It Gets (1997)
- We need a CBC, lytes and a UA.

Just Like Heaven (2005)
Routine investigations, including CBC, ESR, liver, and renal function tests, were within normal limits.

Academic text (2007)
The doctor ordered a CBC to check my blood cell counts.
After the injury, I had to get a CBC to assess my overall health.

Synonyms

blood test

vsCBC

131 2.3

A check of blood taken to see how healthy someone is

is the specific test counting red white cells and platelets

blood count

vsCBC

Specialized

10 3.0

A medical test that measures red and white blood cells and platelets in a blood sample

can also mean the numerical result not only the examination

bloodwork

vsCBC

Specialized

5 3.0

Tests doctors do on blood to check health or find illness

refers to the single test that counts main blood cell numbers

blood profile

vsCBC

Specialized

1 3.9

A medical test that measures the numbers of different types of blood cells and other parts of the blood

limits attention to counting the main cell numbers only

hemogram

vsCBC

Specialized

1 6.8

A blood test that counts the number and types of blood cells

focuses on counting cell numbers in a fixed blood volume

complete blood count

vsCBC

Specialized

3.9

A medical test that counts red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a blood sample

is the shortened abbreviation used instead of the full phrase

Surface Forms

CBC singular

CBCs plural

Morphology

CBC = C + B + C

CBC is an initialism (letters C-B-C); its meaning ('complete blood count') cannot be derived from the letters themselves and must be learned as an abbreviation.

Etymology

CBC is short for complete blood count, literally the words complete, blood, and count. So a CBC is a simple blood test that 'counts' the main types of blood cells, which is why the result gives numbers for red cells, white cells, and platelets.