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Article: The one-two-threes of a complete blood count. (part 2 )
- Article from:
- FDA Consumer
- Article date:
- September 1, 1989
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1989 U.S. Government Printing Office. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The One-Two-Threes of a Complete Blood Count
The moving microcosm called blood begs to be dramatized. Lifeline to all tissue, blood transports the very stuff of survival--nourishment and protection. And a close e amination of its components reveals important information about the body's health. No wonder the most common group of laboratory tests is the complete blood count, or CBC for short. U.S. hospital performed more than 116 million CBCs in 1988.
What is this marvel called blood?
Nearly half of blood consists of tiny units of life: red cells (erythrocytes), white cells (leukocytes), and platelets (thrombocytes). Produced mainly in bone ...