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What does it mean if your full blood count is abnormal?

An abnormal blood count may indicate several health conditions. Abnormalities in the RBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit may indicate anemia when low. Higher than average values indicate conditions such as polycythemia vera or heart disease.

Low WBC levels may be caused by autoimmune disorders, bone marrow problems, or certain types of cancer. Some medications may also alter the WBC. High WBC levels indicate infection, inflammation, or bone marrow disease. The WBC level may also be affected by certain medicines. 

Abnormal platelet counts indicate clotting disorders such as thrombocytopenia or thrombocytosis. Platelets may be affected by certain medications. 

When your blood count has abnormalities, your healthcare provider may order additional testing and evaluation to determine the exact cause of the problem.

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of ACA compliant major medical plans. Coverage and plan options vary and may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure. You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed.

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