Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment and Research
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
| Name of Test | What it Measures | Explanation in IBD | Normal Range |
| Hemoglobin - Hb or Hgb | Oxygen-carrying compound in red blood cells. |
Low values: Blood loss, acute bleeding from active disease or chronic or low grade loss not always apparent in the stool. Inability to make blood due to vitamin deficiency - iron, Folic acid, B-12. Hemolysis - body chews up its own blood. Direct bone marrow suppression, possibly due to medication. |
12-17 grams per 100mL of blood |
| Red Blood Cell Count (RBC) | Number of red blood cells per cc of blood. |
Low values: Blood loss, acute bleeding from active disease or chronic or low grade loss not always apparent in the stool. Inability to make blood due to vitamin deficiency - iron, Folic acid, B-12. Hemolysis - body chews up its own blood. Direct bone marrow suppression, possibly due to medication. |
4-6 million per cc |
| Hematocrit (Hct) | Height of red blood cell column compared with height of whole blood column. |
Low values: Blood loss, acute bleeding from active disease or chronic or low grade loss not always apparent in the stool. Inability to make blood due to vitamin deficiency - iron, Folic acid, B-12. Hemolysis - body chews up its own blood. Direct bone marrow suppression, possibly due to medication. |
36-54% |
| White Blood Cell Count (WBC) | Number of white blood cells per cc of blood. | Elevated values reflect infection, inflammation, severe, stress on the body or the result of medicines (corticosteroids). Low values reflect liver or spleen disease, autoimmune disease or the result of a drug reaction. | 4,000 - 10,000 per cc |
| Platelet Count | Platelets are small cells. "Sticky factor" that help stop bleeding. | High values correlate with increased activity in IBD. Low values causes similar to low values for WBC above. | 150,000 - 300,000 per cc of blood |
| Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (SED Rate or ESR) | The speed at which a column of anticoagulated blood settles. | This test is a non-specific indicator of inflammation or infection somewhere in the body. Reliability varies between paatients but is helpful in monitoring changes within a particular patient. | 2-20 mm per hour |
Screening Profiles
| Name of Test | What it Measures | Explanation in IBD | Normal Range |
| Serum Proteins | Total protein and albumin fraction. | Low serum proteins suggests chronic disease, malnutrition, liver disease or loss of excess protein through the bowel in diarrhea. | 12-17 grams per 100mL of blood |
| Serum Electrolytes | Sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), and bicarbonate (CO2). Electrolytes help to determine the acid, base, and fluid balance in the body. | Severe diarrhea can lead to the loss of significant fluid, potassium and sodium (salt). Bowel resection alters the absorption of digestive juices and can lead to electrolyte imbalance. Medications can predispose selective electrolyte loss. | 4-6 million per cc |
| Renal Function Tests | Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine and uric acid. | These tests measure how effectively the body is excreting waste products in the urine and help determine fluid balance and kidney function. | 36-54% |
| Blood Sugar | Serum glucose. | Medications and severe infections can elevate the blood sugar and uncover a patient's tendency toward diabetes. | 4,000 - 10,000 per cc |
| Liver Function Tests | Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase. | Abnormal values reflect liver disease, sclerosing cholangitis, gallstones plus infection of the liver or abscess formation, all of which can be related to inflammatory bowel disease. (Alkaline phosphatase is normally elevated in children.) | 150,000 - 300,000 per cc of blood |
