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Immune Conditions
Treatment
Take the Blood Count Quiz

Treatment

Take the Blood Count Quiz

The last time you visited your healthcare provider for an illness, they might have ordered a CBC test to help figure out the diagnosis. CBC stands for complete blood count, but what does that mean? And what do all those numbers on the result sheet mean? Find out by taking this quiz. Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, the method used for the test, and other things. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you.

1. Which blood cells and blood elements are included in a CBC test?

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Each type of blood cell or element—platelets are fragments of blood cells—plays an important role in how your body works, so all 3 types are studied in a CBC test. Besides these 3 types of cells, blood is also made up of plasma. Plasma is a clear yellow liquid filled with proteins, nutrients, and other substances. Blood cells make up about 45% of your blood. Plasma makes up the rest.

A. Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
B. White blood cells
C. Platelets
D. All of the above

2. What do white blood cells do?

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White blood cells come in several varieties, but they all travel around the body via the bloodstream to sites of infection. They help destroy invading bacteria or viruses. White blood cells are measured in thousands per cubic milliliter of blood (K/mm3). Normally, there are fewer white blood cells than red. A normal range of white blood cells may vary slightly from lab to lab, but is roughly 4.0 to 10.0 K/mm3.

A. Carry oxygen from the lungs
B. Carry waste products from the cells
C. Fight infection
D. Help stop bleeding by forming clots
E. All of the above

3. What do red blood cells do?

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Red blood cells are red in color because they contain iron. The iron is in the hemoglobin, a substance that makes it possible for these cells to carry oxygen. Red blood cells are measured in millions per cubic milliliter of blood (m/mm3). Although the number of red blood cells varies with the altitude at which a person lives. Generally, a normal range of red blood cells is 3.58 to 4.99 m/mm3.

A. Carry oxygen from the lungs
B. Carry carbon dioxide, a waste product, from the cells
C. Fight infection
D. Help stop bleeding by forming clots
E. All of the above
F. A and B

4. What do platelets do?

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Platelets are the smallest of the blood elements. They are measured in thousands per cubic milliliter (K/mm3). A normal platelet count is about 150 to 450 K/mm3.

A. Carry oxygen from the lungs
B. Carry waste products from the cells
C. Fight infection
D. Help stop bleeding by initiating clots
E. All of the above

5. What is hematocrit?

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This means how much of the total blood volume is red blood cells. Although hematocrit varies with the altitude at which a person lives, generally speaking, a normal hematocrit value for women is 36% to 44%. For men, it is 41% to 50%. The values may be higher for a person living at a high altitude because of the reduced level of oxygen in the atmosphere there.

A. A sometimes fatal blood disease
B. The portion of red blood cells compared with total blood volume
C. A blood pressure measuring device
D. A medicine that helps stop bleeding

6. What are neutrophils?

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Neutrophils are a common white blood cell in the body. They make up about 56% of the white cells in the blood. Their job is to destroy invading bacteria and viruses. On a CBC results sheet, polys refers to mature neutrophils and bands refers to young neutrophils. Both of these cells are able to fight infection. The CBC also measures absolute neutrophil count (ANC), also known as absolute granulocyte count (AGC). This is the number of disease-fighting white blood cells.

A. Immature red blood cells
B. A type of white blood cell
C. A type of platelet
D. A type of bacteria

7. What is severe neutropenia?

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Neutrophils are the first line of defense to fight common infections. A normal neutrophil count ranges from 2,500 to 6,000. If your ANC drops to less than 500, you are at serious risk for infection, and this condition is called severe neutropenia. Moderate neutropenia is an ANC between 500 and 1,000. Mild neutropenia is defined as an ANC between 1,000 and 1,500. The risk for infection begins to go up with moderate neutropenia. If you have neutropenia, you need to closely monitor your health and call your healthcare provider at the first sign of fever or illness. Symptoms to watch for include fever, chills, excessive sweating, and change in amount of urination.

A. An absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of less than 500
B. An ANC of less than 1,000
C. An ANC of less than 50
D. An ANC of less than 25

8. Which is a symptom of not having enough red blood cells or hemoglobin (a condition called anemia)?

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Besides severe tiredness (fatigue), other symptoms of anemia may include dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, pale skin and gums, and a ringing in the ears.

A. Itching
B. Nausea
C. Fever
D. Fatigue

9. What is the name of the condition that results when a person does not have enough platelets?

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Symptoms of this condition include frequent and easy bruising, tiny red or purple spots on the skin, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, black or bloody stools, and brown or red urine. If you have this condition, you should stay away from any medicines containing aspirin, because aspirin interferes with blood clotting. Talk with your healthcare provider about other safety steps you should take.

A. Thrombocytopenia
B. Thromboangiitis
C. Thrombocythemia
D. Thrombopathia

Your score was:

Author: Sinovic, Dianna

Online Medical Reviewer: Gersten, Todd, MD

Online Medical Reviewer: Gotwals, Jessica, RN, BS

Online Medical Reviewer: Sather, Rita, RN

Date Last Reviewed: 12/01/2022

© 2000-2025 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.

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