A großes Blutbild is one of the most common blood tests in Germany. It is really two tests in one. The kleines Blutbild counts your red blood cells, your platelets and your white blood cells as one total. The Differentialblutbild then splits the white blood cells into their five types. Together they make the großes Blutbild.
Everything in the test is about blood cells. Doctors use it to check for things like infections and anaemia. That also means the name is misleading. The test sounds like the big, complete health check, but it does not contain cholesterol, blood sugar, vitamins, iron stores, hormones or organ values. Those need extra tests, even though they can come from the same blood draw.
When a doctor orders a großes Blutbild for a medical reason, your Krankenkasse pays. If you simply want one without symptoms, it is usually an IGeL-Leistung and costs roughly 25 to 40 euros.
The values come with reference ranges from the laboratory, and one value slightly outside a range is common and usually means little on its own. A clinician reads the pattern, not one number.
This glossary entry is general information, not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat or rule out any condition. Discuss your own results with a clinician who knows your history.
