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Blood counts
Explore red cells, white cells, platelets and the indices on a blood count.
Explore blood counts
HbA1c and fasting glucose: a three-month average and a single moment
One is a snapshot of the morning you gave blood, the other reflects roughly three months. Why they can disagree, and what the estimated average glucose row is.
Read the guideHemoglobin
Reported in g/dL · g/L.
Haemoglobin, haematocrit and the red cell indices: MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW
A blood count reports the same red cells several ways — a count, a protein, a percentage, and four averages computed from them. What each column is measuring.
RBC Count
Reported in million/µL.
The differential: why white cells are printed as both a percentage and a count
Five types of white blood cell, each reported twice — once as a share of the total and once as an absolute number. Why both columns exist and why they can disagree.
WBC Count
Reported in /µL · thousand/µL.
Platelet Count
Reported in /µL · thousand/µL.
Hematocrit
Reported in %.
MCV
Reported in fL.
MCH
Reported in pg.
MCHC
Reported in g/dL.
RDW
Reported in %.
Neutrophils %
Reported in %.
Lymphocytes %
Reported in %.
Eosinophils %
Reported in %.
Monocytes %
Reported in %.
Basophils %
Reported in %.
MPV
Reported in fL.
Absolute Neutrophil Count
Reported in thousand/µL.
Absolute Lymphocyte Count
Reported in thousand/µL.
Absolute Monocyte Count
Reported in thousand/µL.
Absolute Eosinophil Count
Reported in thousand/µL.
Absolute Basophil Count
Reported in thousand/µL.
Reading the report
What the H and L flags on a lab report actually assert
A flag compares your number to the range printed beside it on that page — nothing more. What it does not tell you, and why healthy people collect them.
Why the same blood test has different "normal" ranges at different labs
Reference intervals are built from each lab's own population and equipment, which is why two labs can print different ranges for the same sample.