Full Blood Count (FBC) explained: what each result means

A Full Blood Count (FBC) — also called a Complete Blood Count — is one of the most common blood tests there is, and for good reason. From a single sample it measures the three main cell types in your blood: red cells, white cells and platelets. Together they give a broad snapshot of how your body is doing, which is why an FBC is part of every ProGen Health panel.

Red cells and haemoglobin

Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Haemoglobin is the iron-rich protein inside them that actually binds the oxygen. When haemoglobin is low, tissues get less oxygen — which is what we call anaemia, and it often shows up as tiredness, breathlessness or looking pale.

• Haemoglobin (Hb) — the headline number for oxygen-carrying capacity.
• Haematocrit (HCT) — the proportion of your blood made up of red cells.
• MCV — the average size of a red cell, a useful clue to the type of anaemia.
• RBC — the count of red cells themselves.

White cells: your immune system

White blood cells are your body’s defence against infection. The total white cell count can rise when you are fighting an infection and fall in other situations. The FBC also breaks the total into types — neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils — because the balance between them tells a richer story than the total alone.

Platelets: clotting

Platelets are the tiny fragments that help your blood clot when you are injured. Counts that are too low or too high are both worth a clinician’s attention, which is why platelets are reported on every FBC.

Why we track it over time

A single FBC is useful, but the real value comes from comparing it to your own past results. A number sitting inside the reference range can still be drifting in a direction worth noticing. That is why ProGen Health members test twice a year and see each marker against their personal baseline — not just a generic average — with a clinician reviewing every set before you do.