Blood count in Zurich — what your values actually reveal

Dr. Charalampos Romanos · 13 August 2025 · 6 min read

A blood count is one of the most fundamental tests in medicine — yet there are important differences. What is actually measured, and when is a basic count not enough?

Basic vs. full blood count

A basic count measures the fundamentals: haemoglobin, red cells, white cells, platelets, and red cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC). A full blood count adds the differential — the breakdown of different white blood cell types. This is often diagnostically crucial, for example with infections, allergies, or suspected haematological conditions.

What I measure beyond the blood count

In my practice, I rarely order a blood count alone. Depending on the question, I add liver and kidney values, thyroid (TSH), inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR), iron and ferritin, blood glucose (HbA1c), and lipid panel. This gives a much more complete picture than the basic numbers.

When you should get a blood count

For unexplained fatigue, frequent infections, pallor, bleeding tendency, weight loss, or as part of a preventive check-up. A follow-up count can also be useful after an infection or surgery.

Results and next steps

We discuss every result with you personally. Abnormal values are assessed in context — a single value outside the range is not automatically a problem. If further diagnostics are needed, we initiate them in a structured way.