Complete Blood Count (CBC)

A complete blood count, or CBC, is a common blood test that measures the different cells in your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, to help evaluate your overall health.

The acylcarnitine profile test is a blood test that measures the levels of different acylcarnitines in your blood. Acylcarnitines are substances produced when your body breaks down fatty acids (fats from food) to create energy. This test helps doctors see if your body is properly processing fats for energy.

Your doctor may order this test as part of a routine checkup, to look into symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, fever, bruising, or unusual bleeding, or to monitor a condition you already have or a treatment you are receiving.

This test is commonly used as part of newborn screening programs to detect certain inherited metabolic disorders early. It may also be ordered if you or your child have symptoms like unexplained fatigue, muscle weakness, low blood sugar, or developmental delays. The test helps identify problems with fatty acid oxidation—the process your body uses to turn fats into energy.

The test is done with a simple blood draw: a healthcare provider cleans your skin, wraps an elastic band around your upper arm, and collects a small sample of blood from a vein, usually in your arm, which is then sent to a laboratory for analysis.

A healthcare professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm or, for newborns, from a heel stick or finger prick. The blood sample is then sent to a laboratory where technicians measure the levels of various acylcarnitines. The results are analyzed to look for patterns that might indicate specific metabolic disorders.

Your results show whether your blood cell counts fall within normal ranges; abnormal values may point to conditions such as anemia, infection, inflammation, or clotting problems, and your provider will explain what the numbers mean for you.

Results show the levels of different acylcarnitines. Normal levels mean your body is processing fats properly. Abnormal levels of specific acylcarnitines can indicate conditions such as Medium-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency, Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase (CPT) deficiencies, or other fatty acid oxidation disorders. Your doctor will explain what your specific results mean for your health.

This test is very safe. The main risks are minor and brief, such as slight pain or bruising where the needle was inserted, or rarely lightheadedness or infection; serious complications are extremely uncommon.

The risks are minimal and similar to any routine blood test. You may feel slight pain or bruising at the injection site, and in rare cases, infection or excessive bleeding may occur. For newborns, the heel stick may cause temporary discomfort.