Full Blood Count (FBC)
How your body carries oxygen and fights infection. Made in bone marrow: red cells carry oxygen, white cells defend, platelets start clotting.
- Haemoglobin (Hb)
The protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to every tissue.
- Red Blood Cells (RBC)
The total number of red cells per litre of blood — the carriers of oxygen.
- Haematocrit / Packed Cell Volume
The percentage of your blood made up of red cells (the rest is plasma and white cells).
- Mean Cell Volume (MCV)
The average size of your red blood cells.
- Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH)
Average amount of haemoglobin inside each red cell.
- White Blood Cells (WBC)
Your body's defence force — patrols for infection, allergens and abnormal cells.
- Neutrophils
The most abundant white cells — front-line defence against bacteria.
- Lymphocytes
White cells specialised for viruses and long-term immune memory.
- Monocytes
Larger white cells that mature into macrophages — the body's clean-up crew.
- Eosinophils
White cells that handle allergies and parasites.
- Basophils
Rare white cells that release histamine in allergy and inflammation.
- Platelets
Tiny cell fragments that plug holes in blood vessels — the first step of clotting.
- Mean Platelet Volume
The average size of your platelets.