No, a Complete Blood Count (CBC) does not check for drugs.
A CBC is a common blood test that evaluates the cells in your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It helps doctors assess your overall health and detect a wide range of disorders, such as infections, anemia, and certain cancers.
What a CBC Measures:
- Red blood cells (RBCs): Carry oxygen throughout the body.
- White blood cells (WBCs): Fight infections.
- Platelets: Help with blood clotting.
- Hemoglobin: Protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
- Hematocrit: Proportion of blood made up of red blood cells.
Why CBCs Don't Detect Drugs:
CBC tests focus on the number and characteristics of blood cells, not on detecting specific substances like drugs. To detect drugs in the system, specific drug screening tests are required.
Drug Screening Tests:
To assess drugs such as cocaine in the blood, a specific drug screen test needs to be ordered. These tests look for the presence of specific drugs or their metabolites (substances formed when the body breaks down a drug) in the blood, urine, saliva, or hair.
In Summary
| Feature | CBC Test | Drug Screen Test |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Evaluate blood cells and overall health. | Detect specific drugs or their metabolites. |
| What it tests | Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets. | Presence of drugs like cocaine, marijuana, opioids, etc. |
