Fundamentals of complete blood count analysis

Educational video / CME course published in The Biomedical & Life Sciences Collection (Henry Stewart Talks), DOI: 10.69645/FECF7074. The complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most widely performed laboratory tests worldwide and represents a fundamental tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of hematologic and systemic diseases. This educational video reviews the analytical principles employed by modern hematology analyzers, including electrical impedance and flow cytometry, and discusses the generation and interpretation of quantitative parameters, scattergrams, and morphological information. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of the clinical pathologist in integrating laboratory data to improve diagnostic accuracy and support clinical decision-making. Through practical examples and clinical cases, the activity illustrates how CBC interpretation can provide valuable diagnostic clues for reactive conditions, lymphoproliferative disorders, acute leukemias, and other hematological abnormalities. The course also explores the diagnostic potential of advanced and research parameters generated by modern hematology analyzers, highlighting how much of the information currently available remains underutilized in routine clinical practice. Finally, future perspectives are discussed, focusing on the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to integrate traditional, morphological, and research-derived parameters into innovative diagnostic algorithms capable of enhancing the clinical value of the CBC.