NHA Phlebotomy Certification Practice Exam

Which test helps to detect anemia?

1. Glucose test

2. Blood culture

3. Urinalysis

4. Complete blood count

The correct answer is: Complete blood count

The complete blood count (CBC) is a fundamental test used to evaluate overall health and detect a variety of disorders, including anemia. In the context of anemia detection, the CBC provides several key measurements. It includes the red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin levels, and hematocrit values, all of which are crucial in assessing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and determining whether there is a deficiency in red blood cells. When a patient has anemia, the CBC will typically show lower than normal levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit, indicating reduced red blood cell volume. The RBC count will also be lower in anemic patients. Additionally, the CBC can offer insights into the type of anemia, as the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) values can help differentiate between various forms of anemia, such as microcytic, macrocytic, or normocytic anemia. Other tests, like a glucose test, blood culture, or urinalysis, serve different primary purposes and are not designed specifically to detect anemia. The glucose test assesses blood sugar levels, the blood culture is utilized to identify infections in the blood, and the urinalysis examines urine for various