Testing in Anemia CBC with white blood cells (WBC) and platelet counts RBC indices and morphology Reticulocyte count Peripheral smear Sometimes bone marrow aspiration and biopsy Laboratory evaluation begins with a complete blood count (CBC), including white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts, RBC indices and morphology (mean corpuscular volume [MCV], mean corpuscular hemoglobin [MCH], mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC], red blood cell distribution width [RDW]), and examination of the peripheral smear.