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complete blood count

complete blood count

3.9
A medical test that counts red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a blood sample
  • noun
  • /kəmˈpliːt blʌd kaʊnt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hemograma
  • The doctor ordered a complete blood count to check for any abnormalities in her blood cells.
  • complete blood count and chemistry
  • including a complete blood count
  • measurements of the complete blood count

So first up is the complete blood count.

Examples

  • Complete blood counts and chemistry results were within reference ranges (10, 11).

    Academic text (2012)
  • A complete blood count (CBC) at that time demonstrated a white blood cell count of 104,000/? L.

    Blog text (17)
  • The complete blood count revealed normocytic anemia.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Safety monitoring included complete blood count, chemistry profile, urinalysis, pregnancy test, and medical history.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Laboratory studies should include routine preoperative labs, including a complete blood count and liver function tests.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Serum electrolytes, random blood sugar, and complete blood count estimation were done.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Her complete blood count, chemistries, liver function, and urinalysis were within normal limits, as was a CT of the chest.

    Academic text (2005)
  • A complete blood count showed thrombocytopenia (platelet count 51,000/mL).

    Academic text (2015)
  • A complete blood count was normal, and two separate fine-needle aspirations of the left neck mass were nondiagnostic, revealing normal salivary tissue.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Laboratory investigations revealed that the complete blood count, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (4 mm/hr), and the angiotensin-converting enzyme level (54 IU/L) were normal.

    Academic text (2004)

Synonyms

blood test
vscomplete blood count
131 2.3

A check of blood taken to see how healthy someone is

is a specific count measuring three main blood cell numbers
CBC
vscomplete blood count
  • Specialized
130 3.7

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

is the full test measuring those three cell numbers
blood count
vscomplete blood count
  • Specialized
10 3.0

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

is the specific medical test rather than a general result
bloodwork
vscomplete blood count
  • Specialized
5 3.0

Tests doctors do on blood to check health or find illness

is one specific laboratory count among those various tests
blood profile
vscomplete blood count
  • Specialized
1 3.9

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

focuses only on the three main cell numbers not broader components
hemogram
vscomplete blood count
  • Specialized
1 6.8

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

measures only cell numbers without type details

Surface Forms

Morphology

complete + blood + count

The meaning is directly compositional: 'complete' (full) + 'blood' + 'count' (tally) yields the idea of a full tally/test of components in the blood. This structure and concept (a medical test that counts blood elements) is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Complete blood count is a very literal medical name: it began as a lab count of the main kinds of blood cells, where complete means 'all the important types'. So a Complete blood count today is a test that measures the numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to 'check your health'.