The complete blood cell count (CBC) includes measuring the red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), platelets (Plt), and automated differential white blood cell count. At 41.5 million tests, the CBC (CPT 85025) was the second most performed test in 2017 [1]. However, blood cell components can also be ordered separately (including CBC without WBC differential) and they are reimbursed at a lower rate than the CBC. While this makes clinical and financial sense, modern CBC machines always measure every single cellular blood component but report out just what the clinician ordered. Since any test less than a complete blood count may miss important diagnoses (e.g. acute leukemia) ordering separate components endangers patients’ lives and well-being.

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