Complete blood count (CBC) test for your blood cells

Your blood tells a story about how your body is functioning. A complete blood count brings your blood cells together in one overview, from your red blood cells to your white blood cells and your platelets.

Your red blood cells carry oxygen to your muscles, which can play a part in your endurance and your recovery. Your white blood cells belong to your immune response, and your platelets play a role in clotting. By measuring these values, you can build a picture of numbers that may shift with intensive training.

This way you work with data instead of assumptions, which fits an approach where you want to understand and optimise your body.

A complete blood count may suit athletes and active people who want to follow their blood values. It can be relevant for:

• Athletes who want to keep an eye on their red blood cells and hemoglobin
• People who often feel tired or flat during training
• People who want to understand their recovery and workload better
• People who want to follow their blood values periodically
• People considering a broader blood test who want to start with the basics

A complete blood count measures a range of values around your blood cells:

• Hemoglobin is the protein in your red blood cells that binds and transports oxygen.
• Hematocrit indicates which portion of your blood consists of red blood cells.
• Red blood cells (erythrocytes) carry oxygen through your body.
• White blood cells (leukocytes) belong to your immune system.
• Platelets (thrombocytes) play a role in blood clotting.
• MCV, MCH and MCHC say something about the size and content of your red blood cells.

Together these values make up a complete blood count.

The results can show you how your blood values compare to the reference ranges. A low hemoglobin or hematocrit may, for example, be associated with a shortage that could affect your energy, while deviating white blood cells may raise other questions.

For athletes, this insight can be useful, because your oxygen transport can play a part in your endurance. Keep in mind that a single value is not a diagnosis: your blood count only gains meaning in combination with your symptoms and your situation.

For this blood test, a staff member draws a small tube of blood at a certified location. You can choose from more than 750 collection sites in the Netherlands, so there is almost always a location near you.

You need little for this, apart from your appointment confirmation and a valid ID. The draw itself usually takes only a few minutes.

A complete blood count can be useful at different moments. Some people choose to test:

• When they feel tired or flat for a longer period while training
• When they want to follow their recovery after intensive training blocks
• When their blood values were deviating before and they want to keep following them
• When they want to keep an eye on their blood values periodically
• When they want to start with a basic blood test before expanding

What the results mean depends on your personal situation. Each value is compared to a reference range, but a value outside that range does not automatically mean something is wrong.

With a complete blood count, a doctor often looks at the whole picture: your red blood cells, your white blood cells and your platelets together. Always discuss any deviating values with your GP, so you know what the results may mean for you personally.

For a complete blood count, you usually do not need to fast. Drink enough water on the day of the draw, as good hydration can make the draw easier.

If you trained intensively shortly before the draw, keep that in mind, as heavy exertion can temporarily affect some blood values. If in doubt, you can discuss your situation with your GP.

You receive your results digitally in your account, usually within a few working days. For each value, you can see whether it falls within the reference range. You can then share your results with your own GP.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.