A Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a blood test that can be used in the diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia, but it does not directly show iron levels.
Here's why:
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CBC Components: A CBC assesses different components of your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. While it provides information about the size and number of red blood cells, which are affected by iron levels, it doesn't measure the amount of iron itself.
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Indirect Assessment: A CBC can suggest iron deficiency. For example, in iron-deficiency anemia, red blood cells tend to be smaller than normal (microcytic) and paler than normal (hypochromic). The CBC reports the Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) which measures red blood cell size and the Hemoglobin which measures the amount of oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells.
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Further Testing Needed: According to the reference, iron-deficiency anemia is diagnosed by blood tests that include a CBC. Additional tests may be ordered to evaluate the levels of serum ferritin, iron, total iron-binding capacity, and/or transferrin. These additional tests directly measure iron levels and how your body transports and stores iron.
In summary, while a CBC is a crucial part of diagnosing iron-deficiency anemia, it doesn't directly measure iron levels. Other blood tests, such as serum ferritin and iron studies, are needed to determine actual iron levels.
