According to ancient tradition, blood is the seat of life. Our ancestors held it responsible for magical powers, noble lineage or decisive character traits. They spoke of bad blood, blue blood or strong blood and defined it as one of the four vital fluids.
Even if their apparent knowledge of the human body at that time had some gaps, they were right about one thing even in the Middle Ages: blood is of incomparable significance for our health. It fulfils numerous tasks that are essential for maintaining our life processes: it transports oxygen and nutrients to the cells and helps to remove metabolic waste products, it supports the immune system in defending itself against foreign bodies and antigens, it regulates body temperature through constant circulation, it supports our lungs in breathing and the even distribution of oxygen, and it closes open wounds through blood clotting processes.
Our blood is undeniably one of the most important substances in our body. The correct composition of our blood is therefore essential for its functioning and survival.
But what happens when the ratio of blood cells gets out of balance? And how do we even know that our blood values are out of control?
The answer to this is quite simple: by regularly checking your blood values as part of a complete blood count. And we at Probatix will explain to you how best to check this.
Indications for a laboratory analysis
The complete blood count is one of the most frequently ordered preventive examinations by doctors. The reason for this is that many diseases lead to specific changes in the number or ratio of blood cells, which makes the laboratory values very informative.
Therefore, it is carried out both as part of the normal routine examination and for targeted diagnostics in the case of symptomatic complaints. The most common reasons for ordering a complete blood count include the following indications:
• Inflammations and infections
• Anemia (anemia)
• Polycythemia (increased number of red blood cells)
• Leukemia (increased number of white blood cells)
• Tumors
• Blood clotting disorder
• Monitoring of drug therapy
• Pre-operative examination
In addition, a small blood count is also often ordered for differential diagnosis when non-specific symptoms are present. This is the case, for example, when the patient complains of recurring or permanent tiredness, lack of motivation, shortness of breath, exhaustion, headaches, difficulty concentrating, sleep disorders, loss of appetite or dizziness. A full blood count, on the other hand, is ordered when an infection is suspected, as the various leukocytes are examined in this context.
Understanding laboratory values correctly: Parameters of the complete blood count
A complete blood count gives the doctor an overview of the number of individual blood cells. This standard test measures the red blood cells (erythrocytes), the white blood cells (leukocytes) and the platelets (thrombocytes). In addition, other laboratory values (MCV, MCHC and MCH) are measured by the proportion of red blood pigments ( hemoglobin ) and the volume proportion of red blood cells (hematocrit).
Ery or RBC:
Red blood cells, which transport oxygen to our cells and carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs.
Leuk or WBC:
White blood cells, which are responsible for defending against pathogens.
Thrombo, PLT or THRO:
Platelets, which participate in blood clotting and wound healing.
Hk, Hct or Hkt:
Hematocrit value, which represents the ratio between liquid (blood plasma) and solid (blood cells) components in the blood.
Hg, Hgb or Hb:
Hemoglobin, which has the task of binding oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
MCH, MCHC and MCV:
Various values that describe the properties of red blood cells in more detail.
Retis, Retr:
Reticulocytes, which signal whether a process is in its early stages or is already subsiding.
| Parameter | Männer | Frauen |
|---|---|---|
| Erythrozyten | 4,1-5,7 Mio./μl | 3,8-5,0 Mio./μl |
| Leukozyten | 3.700-10.100/μl | 3.700-10.100/μl |
| Thrombozyten | 150.000-361.000/μl | 150.000-361.000/μl |
| Hämoglobin | 13,1-16,8 g/dl | 11,6-15,1 g/dl |
| Hämatokrit | 38-49 % | 34-44 % |
| MCV | 81–99 fl | 81–99 fl |
| MCH | 27–34 pg (1,6–2,1 fmol) | 27–34 pg (1,6–2,1 fmol) |
| MCHC | 32–36 g/dl (19,8–22,3 mmol/l) | 32–36 g/dl (19,8–22,3 mmol/l) |
A small blood test gives the doctor an overview of the number of individual blood cells. This standard test measures the red blood cells (erythrocytes), the white blood cells (leukocytes) and the platelets (thrombocytes). In addition, other laboratory values (MCV, MCHC and MCH) are measured, which describe the proportion of red blood pigments (hemoglobin) and the volume proportion of red blood cells (hematocrit).
• Ery or RBC: Red blood cells that carry oxygen to our cells and carbon dioxide back to the lungs.
• Leuk or WBC: White blood cells that are responsible for the defense against pathogens.
• Thrombo, PLT or THRO: platelets that are involved in blood clotting and wound healing.
• Hk, Hct or Hkt: Hematocrit value, which represents the ratio between liquid (blood plasma) and solid (blood cells) components in the blood.
• Hg, Hgb or Hb: Hemoglobin, which has the task of binding oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
• MCH, MCHC and MCV: Various values that describe the properties of the red blood cells in more detail.
• Retis, Retr: Reticulocytes that indicate whether a process is still in the early stages or has already subsided.
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Further steps: Inference about common diseases
Abnormal blood values do not necessarily indicate a disease. Often the reason for the abnormality is much more banal: daily fluctuations, medication, stress, physical exertion, alcohol, meals, menstruation and pregnancy can also influence this. To keep the error rate as low as possible, you should come to the blood test on an empty stomach and inform your doctor about all potential confounding factors. Other minor causes are temporary vitamin and iron deficiencies or acute infections, which can also lead to fluctuations in blood values. However, both causes are easy to remedy in many cases by allowing the infection to subside automatically or by prescribing replacement medication (e.g. iron supplements). Abnormal blood values do not always have to prove a disease, but can be an important diagnostic tool for it. If the measured blood values are outside the reference range, this can indicate the following causes:
| Parameter | zu niedrige Werte | zu hohe Werte |
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| Erythrozyten |
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| Leukozyten |
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| Thrombozyten |
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| Hämoglobin |
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| Hämatokrit |
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| MCV |
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| MCH |
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| MCHC |
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Costs & Procedure of a Blood Draw
If there is a medical reason to have a blood test, the costs are usually covered by statutory health insurance. The same applies to general preventive examinations (such as the U-examination, the J-examination and the basic check every three years from the age of 35), which also include a small blood test.
However, the situation is different for self-payers who want to check their health without specific indicators. In this case, the cost for a small blood test is around €100, including the laboratory analysis, transport costs, medical evaluation and discussion of the results.
The blood sample itself is usually taken in the morning, so that the last meal is at least eight hours ago. An appointment is made with your family doctor, specialist or other trained professional. The blood sample can be taken not only in the doctor's office, but also in pharmacies, medical laboratories or DRK blood collection points.
The actual blood draw usually only takes a few minutes. The blood is taken from the crook of the arm, the tubes are labeled with the customer's data and the sample is then sent to the laboratory. After about one to two days, the doctor receives the results and can discuss them with the patient at a follow-up appointment. Blood values that exceed the reference range are examined more closely and possible follow-up tests resulting from this are clarified.
Conclusion: The complete blood count as an important reflection of your health
Taking a complete blood count is a simple step that can have a big impact. It can be used to check your health, find the cause of any problems and initiate timely treatment of illnesses.
It is therefore extremely important for acute complaints and as a regular preventive examination. The only problem is that this small step often involves so much unnecessary effort. We at Probatix have therefore thought of an alternative, because we don't want you to save on your health, but on your time.
This is particularly beneficial for self-payers who are free of symptoms and want to stay that way. We help them to carry out regular blood tests more easily, quickly and flexibly. To this end, we at Probatix work closely with doctors and accredited laboratories to check the evaluations and thus detect diseases earlier.
With the help of the software, the results can be accessed on the smartphone regardless of location and time, which significantly reduces travel time, waiting times and telephone calls to discuss the results.
So that you can check your health even more easily and get well again even faster.
