15/01/2026
A full blood count is the world's most common blood test, with an estimated 3.6 billion + tests being performed worldwide each year.
So why is it so popular? Simply because it can provide a broad insight in to a number of disorders such as anaemia, infection, inflammation, nutritional status, bleeding and many other diseases.
A FBC is actually comprises of a number of different panels red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells are involved in carrying oxygen around the body via the protein haemoglobin. White blood cells are our defence mechanism for fighting infections and alike. They also control the immune process and are involved in allergy response. Platelets help the blood clotting process by plugging holes in broken blood vessels.
Unlike some tests such as Cholesterol, a FBC test result is rarely affected by lifestyle changes unless there is an underlying deficiency (such as vitamin B12 or folate deficiency or iron deficiency) or increased alcohol intake. Therefore it can provide an good indicator of your overall health.
You can also get an Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) panel alongside your FBC, which is useful in detecting non specific inflammation, however CRP is usually a better marker nowadays.