Clinical History and Physical Examination: Complete Blood Count Guide
Clinical History
- Interrogatorio (History Taking)
- General information
- Reason for consultation
- Personal history (and physiological and pathological antecedents)
- Family history (genetic diseases, transmissible diseases)
- Current disease (symptoms, type, location, onset, when, evolution, semiology)
Physical Examination
Physical examination performed by the health professional on the patient.
General Inspection
- General information (apparent age, sex, nutrition, constitution)
- Anatomical and static findings (skeletal alterations, skin coloring)
- Functional findings (respiratory movements, heartbeats, convulsions, tremors)
Elementary Skin Lesions
- Primary lesions: macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, hives (wheals), nodules
- Secondary lesions: scabs, scales, ulcers, erosions, fissures
Additional Examination Components
Attitude and position (active, antalgic, due to disease, spontaneous movements, general psychic state, general appearance), palpation (palpation, pressure, digital touch), percussion examination (direct and indirect), olfaction (acetone in diabetics, fetid in hepatic disease, sweet in brucellosis), and complementary explorations.
Complementary Explorations
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Endocrine studies
- Blood glucose (BG)
- Plasma concentrations
- Stool analysis
- Urinalysis
- Radiology and radiography
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Respiratory functional tests
Complete Blood Count (Hemogram): Erythrocyte Series
Erythrocytes (red blood cells): adult erythrocyte count of 3.8 to 5.5 million/mm³.
Hematocrit: percentage of blood volume occupied by red blood cells (mainly erythrocytes). Normal range: 35-48%.
Hemoglobin: protein that carries oxygen; normal range: 12-17 g/dL.
Erythrocyte Indices
- MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume): average volume of each erythrocyte.
- MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin): average amount of hemoglobin per erythrocyte. Normal range: 27-33 picograms.
- MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration): average concentration of hemoglobin in each erythrocyte, relative to cell volume. Normal range: 33-37 g/dL.
- RDW (Red Cell Distribution Width): measures the variation in size among erythrocytes.
- Morphology: evaluation of shape and any abnormal appearance (anisocytosis).
- Reticulocytes: percentage or absolute count of immature erythrocytes in circulation, indicating bone marrow hematopoietic activity. Normal range: 0.5-1.5%.
White Blood Cell Series
Adult Leukocytes: 6,000-10,000/mm³
Leukocyte Differential Formula (percentage of each type)
Platelet Series
Adult Platelets: 150,000-300,000/mm³
Coagulation Times: evaluate the different phases of hemostasis, allowing detection of a deficiency or excess of clotting factors (thrombosis or hemorrhage).
Normal Values: Hemogram