Full Blood Count (FBC) Blood Test

£59.00

Examine the components of your blood, including red and white blood cells, and platelets.

Results estimated in 2 working days

View 15 Biomarkers

How do you want to take your sample?

Please choose one option below
  • Book a venous draw at a clinic   +£35.00

    Visit one of our national clinic partners for a nurse to take your venous blood sample from a vein in your arm. We’ll email you instructions on how to book after we’ve processed your order.
  • Book a venous draw at home with a nurse +£59.00

  • Self-arrange a professional sample collection Free

Full Blood Count (FBC) Blood Test

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Is it for you?

Want to check your general health and immune function? Maybe you have a family history of blood disorders or you’re experiencing symptoms of anaemia like fatigue, feeling tired all the time, or pale skin.

Our full blood count test explores your overall health and can help detect medical problems that can affect your blood cells such as anaemia, infection, and inflammation..

Biomarker table

Clotting status

Platelet count

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Platelets or clotting cells are the smallest type of blood cell. They are formed in the bone marrow and are important in blood clotting. When bleeding occurs, the platelets swell, clump together and form a sticky plug (a clot) which helps stop the bleeding.

MPV

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MPV, or Mean Platelet Volume, is a measurement of the average size of your platelets. Platelets are fragmented cells within the blood that aid the process of clot formation. MPV provides an indication of platelet production in your bone marrow.

Red blood cells

Haemoglobin

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Haemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells which carries oxygen around the body and gives the blood its red colour. This test measures the amount of haemoglobin in the blood and is a good measure of the blood's ability to carry oxygen around the body.

Haematocrit

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HCT (haematocrit) measures the amount of space (volume) within the blood that is taken up by red blood cells.

Red cell count

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Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count analyses the number of red blood cells in the blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, where it can be used to fuel energy processes such as movement and respiration. They also carry carbon dioxide produced from cells back to the lungs so that it can be exhaled.

MCV

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MCV (mean corpuscular volume) reflects the average size of your red blood cells. This is important to measure, as it can indicate how much oxygen your cells are likely to be transporting around the body.

MCH

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MCH (mean corpuscular haemoglobin) measures the average amount of haemoglobin contained in one of your red blood cells.

MCHC

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MCHC (mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration) is the average concentration of haemoglobin in your red blood cells. Haemoglobin is a molecule which allows red blood cells to transport oxygen around the body.

RDW

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Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) indicates whether your red blood cells are all the same size, or different sizes or shapes. Normally cells are fairly uniform both in size and in shape, but some blood disorders may cause your red blood cells to form in abnormal sizes. This test measures the difference between the largest and the smallest red blood cell.

White blood cells

White cell count

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White Blood Cell (WBC) Count measures the number of white blood cells in the blood. White blood cells are key to your body's immune system. They fight infections and protect your body from foreign invaders such as harmful germs and bacteria. Additionally, they produce many antibodies and memory cells to protect you from further infections with the same germ.

Neutrophils

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Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell in the body and are responsible for helping your body fight infection. When a germ is initially detected by the body, neutrophils are the defence system which go out and attack the germ before any of your other white blood cells. When neutrophils are low you can be more vulnerable to illness and infection.

Lymphocytes

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Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell which fight bacterial and viral infections. They are the subset of white blood cells involved in the more specific response to infections, which can identify and differentiate between different foreign organisms that enter the body. As well as fighting infection, they produce antibodies and memory cells to help to prevent future infections from the same germ. Lymphocytes include T cells, B cells and natural killer cells.

Monocytes

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Monocytes are a type of white blood cell that surround and destroy germs and dead or damaged cells from the blood. The heat and swelling that you feel when a body part is inflamed, for example after a cut on your finger, is caused by the activities of these cells.

Eosinophils

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Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that are responsible for removing parasitic infections and regulating inflammation to mark an infected site. They also play a role in allergy and in asthma.

Basophils

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Basophils are a type of white blood cell that protect your body from bacteria and parasites such as ticks. They also play a role in allergic reactions.
Blood testing made easy

How it works

Your personalised, actionable health results are only a few clicks away. Order your test, take and post your sample, then view your results online with our doctors' comments.

Your results, simplified

Track, improve, and monitor your health over time

MyMedichecks is your personal online dashboard where you can view your results, access clear and simple explanations about individual health markers, monitor changes in your health, and securely store information about your medical history, lifestyle, and vital statistics.

FAQs

What is an FBC blood test?

Our FBC blood test (sometimes called a complete blood count) highlights abnormalities in your blood such as unexpectedly high or low numbers of blood cells. It gives you an overview of your general health and clues about certain health problems.

Conditions that can cause abnormal FBC results include anaemia, nutritional deficiencies (including iron, vitamin B12, and folate deficiency), inherited blood disorders, autoimmune disorders, infection, and bleeding and clotting disorders.

Why check my red blood cells?

Red blood cells are vital for transporting oxygen around your body. Anything that affects their ability to do their job can lead to symptoms such as fatigue and weakness.

Our FBC test takes a detailed look at your red blood cells including their number, size, and volume. An abnormality in your red blood cells could indicate a medical problem such as anaemia.

What can I learn from my white blood cells?

White blood cells protect your body by fighting infection — they’re vital to supporting your body's immune system.

If your white blood cell count is high, this may be due to a recent or current infection, or inflammation in your body. Other possible causes include problems with the bone marrow or immune system, or a reaction to a medication.

A low white blood cell count may indicate a recent infection, an autoimmune disorder where your body mistakenly destroys white cells, a problem with white blood cell production, and in rare cases, it could be a sign of cancer.

What are the main components of blood?

Blood has four main components. The main component is plasma (60%) — a liquid made up of water, fat, protein, sugar, and salts. Blood cells make up the remaining 40% and include:

-Red blood cells — containing haemoglobin, which transports oxygen around the body

-White blood cells — the cells of the immune system that fight infection

-Platelets — cells that help to clot the blood to stop bleeding

What can cause anaemia?

Anaemia can have many different causes. Low iron (iron deficiency) is the most common nutritional cause, but it can also be caused by folate and vitamin B12 deficiency. Other causes of anaemia include blood loss, inherited red blood cell disorders, and chronic conditions such as kidney disease.

What can I do about anaemia?

Treatment for anaemia will be based on the underlying cause, and many causes of anaemia are unrelated to diet or lifestyle. However, iron deficiency anaemia is one type of anaemia that may be improved by adding more iron-rich foods to your diet. Good sources of iron include red meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish. Plant-based sources include lentils, beans, tofu, and dark green, leafy vegetables.

Can a full blood count detect liver problems?

A full blood count test may provide clues to liver function problems, such as a decrease in red blood cells and clotting issues, but further investigations would be needed to make a diagnosis.

Our Liver Function Blood Test covers a range of key markers of liver health including serum albumin. A low level of serum albumin or raised transaminases can suggest your liver isn’t working properly.

Can a full blood count test check for diabetes?

A full blood count test is not used to check for diabetes. If you think you’re at risk of developing diabetes, you can test your blood sugar levels with our at-home finger-prick Diabetes (HbA1c) Blood Test — this assesses your blood sugar control over the past 8–12 weeks.

Can I take an FBC blood test at home?

Yes, you can take our FBC test at home by arranging a nurse visit. As this is a comprehensive test, your blood sample will need to be taken from a vein in your arm to ensure that the sample is sufficient.

Alternatively, you can visit one of our partner clinics to have your blood sample taken at a time that suits you.

Limitations of the test

Read before you order:

An FBC is commonly used by doctors to screen for, help diagnose, or monitor a range of health conditions. However, it’s important to note that an FBC is usually not a definitive, diagnostic test. If an FBC blood test reveals an abnormality in your blood, your doctor will likely recommend follow-up tests and further investigation.

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