Final answer:
A Complete Blood Count (CBC) blood test is used to assess general health and detect disorders like anemia and infections by analyzing red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. Sickle Cell Disease is confirmed through a CBC when the abnormally shaped sickle red blood cells and altered hemoglobin are observed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Purpose of CBC Blood Test
A Complete Blood Count (CBC) blood test is conducted to evaluate overall health and detect a wide range of disorders, such as anemia, infection, and many other diseases. It measures several components and features of your blood, including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets.
Red Blood Cells vs White Blood Cells
Red blood cells (RBCs) are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and returning carbon dioxide back to the lungs for exhalation. Hemoglobin is a protein in RBCs that carries oxygen. White blood cells (WBCs), on the other hand, are a component of the immune system and help defend the body against infection and disease.
Blood Plasma vs Blood Serum
Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood that holds blood cells in suspension. It is composed mainly of water, proteins, electrolytes, glucose, clotting factors, and hormones. Blood serum is the fluid that remains after the blood has clotted and the cells have been removed, typically containing antibodies and other proteins.
Detection of Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is detected in the CBC by observing the abnormally shaped hemoglobin within red blood cells. In SCD, the red blood cells become rigid and sickle-shaped which can be identified under a microscope. Abnormal RBC shape leads to problems such as clogging of blood vessels, which can be found through the CBC. When RBCs are sickle-shaped, they do not carry oxygen efficiently, which would result in a low oxygen-carrying capacity as seen in the hemoglobin levels and RBC count in the CBC results.