Also known as: CBC with Diff, CBC w/ Differential, Complete Blood Count with Differential, CBC/Diff/Plt
The short answer
CBC with Differential measures WBC, RBC and Hemoglobin plus 11 more from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $21.99 plus a $6 lab fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 1–3 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest or Labcorp.
Hospital Lab
$100
cash pay
Other Labs
$25
+ lab fees
TestWell
$21.99
+ $6 lab fee
The Complete Blood Count with Differential (CBC w/ Diff) is the most commonly ordered blood test. It counts your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and provides a detailed breakdown of the five types of white blood cells. This helps detect infections, anemia, clotting disorders, immune system conditions, and blood cancers.
Complete Blood Count with Differential evaluates red cells, white cells, and platelets — screening for anemia, infection, and clotting issues.
Anyone doing an annual checkup, investigating fatigue, frequent infections, easy bruising, or unexplained bleeding. Standard in any pre-op workup and monitoring TRT or chemotherapy.
Sample Type
Blood draw
Fasting
Not required
Results In
1–3 business days
Performed At
Quest or Labcorp
14 biomarkers tested · 12 measured, 2 calculated from them
Your CBC with Differential results will include values for each of the 14 biomarkers tested, along with reference ranges. Results are reviewed by a licensed physician before being released to your secure portal.
If any values fall outside the normal range, your report will include guidance on what that may mean and recommended next steps. You'll receive an email notification when your results are ready, typically within 1–3 business days.
Typical reference range layout
Lab reports show where your value sits relative to established reference intervals—your physician interprets this in context for you.
No fasting required. No special preparation needed.
The short answer
Yes for a broad baseline. A CBC with differential is the most-ordered blood test in medicine - it screens for anemia, infection, and clotting problems at once, and pairs perfectly with a CMP for a complete routine workup.
We would rather you order the right test than the most expensive one.
A CBC requires a whole-blood venous sample, so it is drawn at Quest or Labcorp, or by an at-home mobile phlebotomist where available - not a fingerstick kit. No fasting needed.
The markers that matter most and what an out-of-range value can mean. Reference ranges vary by lab, age and sex.
| Marker | Typical range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Hemoglobin | 13.5-17.5 (men) / 12.0-15.5 (women) g/dL | Low hemoglobin defines anemia; high can reflect dehydration or, less often, a marrow condition. |
| White blood cells (WBC) | 4.5-11.0 x10^9/L | High often signals infection or inflammation; low can point to viral illness or marrow/immune issues. |
| Platelets | 150-450 x10^9/L | Low raises bleeding risk; high can accompany inflammation or clotting tendencies. |
| Neutrophils | ~40-70% (1.8-7.7 x10^9/L) | The bacteria-fighters. High with bacterial infections, inflammation, steroids, or stress; low (neutropenia) after viral illness, some medications, or chemotherapy — below ~1.0 warrants prompt medical follow-up. |
| Lymphocytes | ~20-40% (1.0-4.8 x10^9/L) | The virus-fighters. High with viral infections (mono, CMV) and some chronic leukemias; persistently low can accompany steroids, autoimmune disease, or immune suppression. |
| Monocytes | ~2-8% | Cleanup cells. Mildly high during recovery from infection or with chronic inflammation; persistent unexplained elevation deserves a repeat test. |
| Eosinophils | ~1-4% | Allergy and parasite responders. High with allergies, asthma, eczema, drug reactions, or parasitic infection. |
| Basophils | ~0-1% | The rarest type. Usually only meaningful when persistently elevated, which can accompany allergic states or certain marrow conditions. |
| Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte pattern | Interpreted together | Neutrophil-heavy shifts suggest bacterial infection or physiologic stress; lymphocyte-heavy shifts point viral. This pattern reading is exactly why the differential version is worth the extra few dollars over a basic CBC. |
This section medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD — updated July 2026. General health information, not medical advice; interpret results with a qualified clinician.
A CBC with Differential test costs $21.99 at TestWell — $27.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Ordered directly from the labs' own consumer sites, the same test lists at $29.00 at Quest Health and $29.00 at Labcorp OnDemand (list prices checked Sep 12, 2026). Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $100.00 self-pay for the same test, and often more. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible. Full cost breakdown →
| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $21.99 | $27.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| Quest Health (Quest Diagnostics' own site) | $29.00 | $29.00 | list price checked Sep 12, 2026 |
| Labcorp OnDemand (Labcorp's own site) | $29.00 | $29.00 | list price checked Sep 12, 2026 |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $100.00 | $100.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
3% less than the lower lab-direct list price, for the same draw at the same lab. Lab test codes: Quest test code 6399 · Labcorp test no. 005009 · BioReference code 0053-9. Competitor prices are read from the linked public pages and re-checked regularly; the labs' sites may add taxes or change prices without notice.
Compare more: Quest Diagnostics price list · Labcorp price list · Quest vs Labcorp · Lab test price checker
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
TestWell Price
$21.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
Better value: the Blood Clotting Panel
Save $50.97This test is part of the Blood Clotting Panel — 4 tests · 18 biomarkers for $149.99, $50.97 less than à la carte.
$149.99$200.96
4 tests · 18 biomarkers
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CBC with Differential
$21.99