What does the medical abbreviation CBE mean?

The medical abbreviation CBE stands for complete blood examination, also commonly referred to as a complete blood count (CBC). It refers to a series of several tests that evaluate different components present in a sample of blood.

A complete blood examination provides valuable information about the overall health of an individual and helps in the diagnosis and management of various medical conditions. It measures various parameters related to:

1. Red Blood Cells:

- Red blood cell count (RBC)

- Hemoglobin (HGB): Oxygen-carrying protein

- Hematocrit (HCT): Proportion of red blood cells in blood

- Red blood cell indices

2. White Blood Cells:

- White blood cell count (WBC)

- Differential white blood cell count: Breakdown of different types of white blood cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and monocytes)

3. Platelets:

- Platelet count (PLT)

4. Additional Parameters:

- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): Average volume of red blood cells

- Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH): Average amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells

- Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC): Average concentration of hemoglobin in red blood cells

- Reticulocyte count: Immature red blood cells

CBE/CBC results provide insights into conditions such as anemia, infection, inflammation, blood disorders, and nutritional deficiencies. It serves as a routine test during physical examinations, regular health check-ups, pre-operative evaluations, and when assessing symptoms like weakness, fever, or abnormal bruising.

The reference ranges for CBE parameters may vary slightly based on the diagnostic laboratory and the individual's age, gender, and ethnicity. It is important for healthcare professionals to interpret and analyze the results in the context of the patient's overall health and medical history.