Full Blood Count (FBC)
Assessment Stage: Baseline Assessment
Included in Future Health Assessment: Yes
Partner: DHM Pathology
Provider: DHM Pathology
Approximate Cost: Included in the Future Health Assessment (Medicare where eligible)
What is it?
A Full Blood Count (FBC) is one of the most commonly performed blood tests and provides an overall assessment of your blood cells. It can identify early signs of anaemia, infection, inflammation, nutritional deficiencies and certain blood disorders.
Because many conditions develop gradually before symptoms occur, the FBC is an important component of preventive health screening.
What does it measure?
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Haemoglobin
Haematocrit
Red Blood Cell Count
Mean Cell Volume (MCV)
Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH)
Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)
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Total White Cell Count
Neutrophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Eosinophils
Basophils
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Platelet Count
Mean Platelet Volume (MPV)
Why is it important?
Abnormal results may indicate:
Iron deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Folate deficiency
Infection
Chronic inflammation
Bone marrow disorders
Blood cancers
Chronic disease
Bleeding disorders
Even when results are only mildly abnormal, they often provide useful clues that guide further investigation.
Who may benefit?
Recommended for all adults.
Particularly valuable for patients with:
Fatigue
Breathlessness
Frequent infections
Unexplained bruising
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Vegetarian or vegan diets
Chronic medical conditions
What happens during the test?
A routine blood sample is collected.
Preparation
No fasting is required.
Advantages
Widely available
Highly validated
Detects numerous common conditions
Excellent baseline investigation
Limitations
The FBC identifies abnormalities but does not determine their cause. Further investigations are often required if results are abnormal.
How Future Health uses this investigation
The FBC is interpreted together with:
Iron Studies
Vitamin B12
Folate
Inflammatory Markers
Kidney Function
Medical History
To identify early health changes before symptoms develop.
Related Future Health Domains
Cardiometabolic Health
Healthy Ageing
Nutrition
Immune Health
Future Health Summary
The Full Blood Count provides a valuable overview of your general health and is often the first investigation to identify common medical conditions before symptoms become apparent.