A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test that shows the number of blood cells. Anemia is diagnosed if RBC levels are too low. It may also suggest what type of anemia is present. Other tests or questions will help to confirm an anemia due to nutrition. Tests to rule out other causes include:
Anemia. American Society of Hematology website. Available at: http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Anemia. Accessed February 13, 2020.
Anemia in Adults-Approach to Patients. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/approach-to/anemia-in-adults-approach-to-the-patient. Updated September 27, 2019. Accessed February 13, 2020.
Anemia in Older Adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/anemia-in-older-adults. Updated November 27, 2017. Accessed February 13, 2020.
Anemia. National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/anemia. Accessed February 13, 2020.
Complete blood count (CBC). Lab Tests Online—AACC website. Available at: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/complete-blood-count-cbc. Updated January 11, 2020. Accessed February 13, 2020.
Vieth JT, Lane DR. Anemia. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2017 Dec;31(6):1045-1060.
Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD