According to the Mayo Clinic, a hemogram, or complete blood count (CBC), is a wide-ranging blood test used to assess overall health and to detect disorders, such as anemia, infection and leukemia. Both white and red blood cells are measured, in addition to hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelets.
The Mayo Clinic states that hemograms are conducted to monitor both existing medical conditions and medical treatments that may affect blood cell count. An individual is usually not required to fast for a hemogram unless his blood is to be used for additional testing; however, this is dependent on specific instructions from the doctor.
