• Component Description
• Eligible Sample
• Description of Laboratory Methodology
• Laboratory Method Files
• Laboratory Quality Assurance and Monitoring
• Data Processing and Editing
• Analytic Notes
• References
• Codebook
  • SEQN - Respondent sequence number
  • LBXWBCSI - White blood cell count (1000 cells/uL)
  • LBXLYPCT - Lymphocyte percent (%)
  • LBXMOPCT - Monocyte percent (%)
  • LBXNEPCT - Segmented neutrophils percent (%)
  • LBXEOPCT - Eosinophils percent (%)
  • LBXBAPCT - Basophils percent (%)
  • LBDLYMNO - Lymphocyte number (1000 cells/uL)
  • LBDMONO - Monocyte number (1000 cells/uL)
  • LBDNENO - Segmented neutrophils num (1000 cell/uL)
  • LBDEONO - Eosinophils number (1000 cells/uL)
  • LBDBANO - Basophils number (1000 cells/uL)
  • LBXRBCSI - Red blood cell count (million cells/uL)
  • LBXHGB - Hemoglobin (g/dL)
  • LBXHCT - Hematocrit (%)
  • LBXMCVSI - Mean cell volume (fL)
  • LBXMCHSI - Mean cell hemoglobin (pg)
  • LBXMC - Mean Cell Hgb Conc. (g/dL)
  • LBXRDW - Red cell distribution width (%)
  • LBXPLTSI - Platelet count (1000 cells/uL)
  • LBXMPSI - Mean platelet volume (fL)
  • LBXNRBC - Nucleated red blood cells

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

2017-2018 Data Documentation, Codebook, and Frequencies

Complete Blood Count with 5-Part Differential (CBC_J)

Data File: CBC_J.xpt

First Published: February 2020

Last Revised: NA

Component Description

The complete blood count (CBC) with 5-part differential counts red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets; measures hemoglobin; estimates the red cells’ volume and sorts the WBCs into subtypes. A CBC is a routine blood test used to evaluate your overall health and detect a wide range of disorders, including anemia, infection, and leukemia. 

These data will be used to estimate deficiencies and toxicities of specific nutrients in the population and subgroups, to provide population reference data, and to estimate the contribution of diet, supplements, and other factors to whole blood levels of nutrients. Data will be used for research to further define nutrient requirements as well as optimal levels for disease prevention and health promotion.

Eligible Sample

Examined participants aged 1 year and over were eligible.

Description of Laboratory Methodology

The methods used to derive CBC parameters are based on the Beckman Coulter methodology of counting and sizing, in combination with an automatic diluting and mixing device for sample processing, and a single beam photometer for hemoglobinometry. The WBC differential uses VCS technology.

The Beckman Coulter DxH 800 instrument in the NHANES mobile examination center (MEC) produces a CBC on blood specimens and provides a distribution of blood cells for all participants.

Refer to the Laboratory Method Files section for a detailed description of the laboratory methods used.

There were no changes to the lab method, lab equipment, or lab site for this component in the NHANES 2017-2018 cycle. 

Laboratory Method Files

Complete Blood Count (September 2019)

Laboratory Quality Assurance and Monitoring

Whole blood specimens were analyzed in the NHANES Mobile Examination Center.

Detailed instructions on specimen collection and processing are discussed in the NHANES Laboratory Procedures Manual (LPM).

The NHANES quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) protocols meet the 1988 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments mandates. Detailed QA/QC instructions are discussed in the NHANES LPM.

Mobile Examination Centers (MECs)

Laboratory team performance is monitored using several techniques. NCHS and contract consultants use a structured competency assessment evaluation during visits to evaluate both the quality of the laboratory work and the quality-control procedures. Each laboratory staff member is observed for equipment operation, specimen collection and preparation; testing procedures and constructive feedback are given to each staff member. Formal retraining sessions are conducted annually to ensure that required skill levels were maintained.

Analytical Laboratories

NHANES uses several methods to monitor the quality of the analyses performed by the NHANES laboratories. In the MEC, the CBC results are measured in duplicate and averaged.  The averaged results are reported to participant and released in this dataset. 

NCHS developed and distributed a quality control protocol for all CDC and contract laboratories, which outlined the use of Westgard rules (Westgard, et al. 1981) when running NHANES specimens. Progress reports containing any problems encountered during the analysis of the specimens, summary statistics for each control pool, QC graphs, instrument calibration, reagents, and any special considerations are submitted to NCHS quarterly. The reports are reviewed for trends or shifts in the data.

Data Processing and Editing

The data were reviewed. Incomplete data or improbable values were sent to the performing laboratory for confirmation.

Five derived variables were created in this data file. The variables were created using the following formulas:

LBDLYMNO = LBXWBCSI * LBXLYPCT/100 (round to 1 decimal)
LBDMONO = LBXWBCSI * LBXMOPCT/100 (round to 1 decimal)
LBDNENO = LBXWBCSI * LBXNEPCT /100 (round to 1 decimal)
LBDEONO = LBXWBCSI * LBXEOPCT/100 (round to 1 decimal)
LBDBANO = LBXWBCSI * LBXBAPCT/100 (round to 1 decimal)

Analytic Notes

Refer to the 2017-2018 Laboratory Data Overview for general information on NHANES laboratory data.

There are over 800 laboratory tests performed on NHANES participants. However, not all participants provided biospecimens or enough volume for all the tests to be performed. The specimen availability can also vary by age or other population characteristics. For example, in 2017-2018, approximately 80% of children aged 1-17 years who were examined in the MEC provided a blood specimen through phlebotomy, while 95% of examined adults age 18 and older provided a blood specimen. Analysts should evaluate the extent of missing data in the dataset related to the outcome of interest as well as any predictor variables used in the analyses to determine whether additional re-weighting for item non-response is necessary.

Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues.

Demographic and Other Related Variables

The analysis of NHANES laboratory data must be conducted using the appropriate survey design and demographic variables. The NHANES 2017-2018 Demographics File contains demographic data, health indicators, and other related information collected during household interviews as well as the sample design variables. The recommended procedure for variance estimation requires use of stratum and PSU variables (SDMVSTRA and SDMVPSU, respectively) in the demographic file. 

The Fasting Questionnaire File includes auxiliary information, such as fasting status, the length of fast and the time of venipuncture. 

The laboratory data file can be linked to the other NHANES data files using the unique survey participant identifier (i.e., SEQN).

The detection limits were constant for all of the analytes in the data set. Two variables are provided for each of these analytes.  The variable ending in “LC” (ex., LBDHGBLC) indicates whether the result was below the limit of detection: the value “0” means that the result was at or above the limit of detection, “1” indicates that the result was below the limit of detection.  The other varible prefixed LBX ()ie., LBXHGB) provides the analytic result for that analyte.  For analytes with analytic results below the lower limit of detection (ex., LBDHGBLC = 1), an imputed value was placed in the analyte results field.  This value is the lower limit of detection divided by the square root of 2 (LLOD/sqrt[2]). The lower and upper limits of detection for CBC:

 

Variable Name	Analyte Description	LLOD	ULOD	Range
LBXWBCSI	White blood cell count	0.050	400.000	x 103 cells/uL
LBXLYPCT	Lymphocyte percent	0.00	100.00	%
LBXMOPCT	Monocyte percent	0.00	100.00	%
LBXNEPCT	Segmented neutrophils percent	0.00	100.00	%
LBXEOPCT	Eosinophils percent	0.00	100.00	%
LBXBAPCT	Basophils percent	0.00	100.00	%
LBXRBCSI	Red blood cell count	0.005	8.5	x 106 cells/uL
LBXHGB	Hemoglobin	0.10	25.50	g/dL
LBXMCVSI	Mean cell volume	50.00	150.00	fL
LBXRDW	Red cell distribution width	10.00	40.00	%
LBXPLTSI	Platelet count	3.0	3000.0	x 103 cells/uL
LBXMPSI	Mean platelet volume	5.00	25.00	fL

References

• Westgard J.O., Barry P.L., Hunt M.R., Groth T. A multi-rule Shewhart chart for quality control in clinical chemistry. Clin Chem (1981) 27:493-501.

Codebook and Frequencies