Complete Blood Count (CBC)Reported in ×10⁶/µLRed blood cell count (RBC)
The number of red blood cells in a sample. Red cells are the oxygen carriers, and this count is read with hemoglobin and hematocrit.
What it measures
Each red cell is a small disc packed with hemoglobin. The RBC tells you how many of those discs are present. It moves together with hemoglobin and hematocrit, but the three are not identical: you can have fewer cells that are each full of hemoglobin, or many cells that are small and pale.
Why it is on the panel
It is one of the three numbers used to recognize anemia or a higher-than-usual red cell mass. Tracking it over time shows whether a change is a one-off or a pattern.
How to read it
Pair it with hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and RDW. The count says how many cells you have. MCV and RDW say what those cells look like.
When it runs higher
A higher count can show up with dehydration, time at altitude, smoking, or conditions that drive the marrow to make more red cells. Dehydration is the everyday reason a screening result sits a little high.
When it runs lower
A lower count is one face of anemia. Iron deficiency, blood loss, B12 or folate deficiency, chronic illness, and inherited red-cell traits can all reduce the number. The indices on the same panel narrow the list.
How to use this page
This page explains what the measurement is for. It is educational. Your Healiam report includes the reference interval for your age and sex, and a clinician reads that result with your history, medicines, and the rest of the panel. Talk with a clinician before changing diet, supplements, or treatment because of a number on a report.
RBC
RBC is part of the full panel.
No referral or insurance required.
One preventive draw covers this measurement and the rest of the Healiam panel. CLIA-certified results come back in days.