What Preparation Is Needed for a Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test?
More Programs and Publications Featuring Dr. Kyle Riding
In this program:
For an upcoming complete blood count (CBC) test, how should patients prepare for the test? Watch as medical laboratory scientist Dr. Kyle Riding explains the importance of hydration and how dehydration can impact CBC test values.
Transcript
Interviewer:
I'm having a blood test tomorrow in a couple of days where a CBC is going to be important. What would I need to do to prepare for a CBC test?
Dr. Kyle Riding:
That's the beauty of the complete blood count is, fortunately, it is one of the few routine blood tests that you get at say an annual physical where there's no fasting requirements and no restrictions placed upon you. However, I am going to recommend to everyone watching this, make sure you remain well-hydrated both during the time around, you're going to be getting that blood draw for the CBC and just in general, hydration is important because ill hydration and not drinking enough water can actually cause fluctuations in some of the values, and we see drastic changes, particularly in hemoglobin values when a patient is severely dehydrated, so I always recommend just stay hydrated to best bet for most laboratory tests beyond that, that's all you really need for the CBC.
Interviewer:
Do certain patients who have underlying conditions have to prepare for a CBC differently?
Dr. Kyle Riding:
Fortunately, because of the nature of this test and because it's really screening for a variety of different diseases or is simply tracking a disease process in its native state, typically patients do not...even those that are currently dealing with some type of disease typically have no special preparation that they have to be involved in when it comes time to have their CBC collected, so it is one of those really useful lab tests because the patient has no preparation that's involved in it, regardless of if they're a healthy well visit patient or an individual who's sick.
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