RED BLOOD CELL COUNT (RBC): Red blood cells carry oxygen to cells and take carbon dioxide back to the lungs.
PLATELET COUNT: Thrombocytes are key factors in blood clotting. Most complete blood counts estimate the platelet count as adequate or inadequate.
HEMOGLOBIN: Iron, the "heme" in hemoglobin, is the main element in RBC's and binds the oxygen or carbon dioxide to the cell for transport. Measuring hemoglobin reveals the blood's capacity to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide, which usually parallels the RBC count.
HEMATOCRIT: This is the ratio of RBC's to total blood volume, expressed as a percentage. It reveals the size, capacity and number of RBCs. High hematocrit is found in severe dehydration and low hematocrit is present in anemia.
TOTAL WHITE CELL COUNT: There are five kinds of white blood cells. They are vital for defense against harmful substances such as bacteria. A high white cell count indicates infection, while a low count may be a sign of an impaired immune system
