CBC

Your doctor is likely to order a CBC if you're experiencing any of the following, or simply as part of a routine annual health checkup:

• Persistent fatigue, weakness, or unusual paleness
• Unexplained fever, chills, or frequent infections
• Unusual or easy bruising and bleeding
• Shortness of breath or a racing heartbeat
• Before a scheduled surgery or major medical procedure
• As part of monitoring a known chronic condition or ongoing medication

Because a CBC is so broadly informative, many doctors include it as a baseline test even when symptoms are mild or non-specific, since subtle abnormalities can point toward a problem well before it becomes serious.