Standing orders for inpatients for CBC testing should be avoided as this can lead to over-testing in relatively stable patients. Particularly in patients with longer term hospital stays, there is some evidence that repeated blood testing can have a negative effect on patients including some increase in anemia. Trauma patients often have blood draws repeated frequently even in the absence of indications of hematologic instability on admission.

Conditions: Inpatient, Anemia, Trauma

Diagnostic Tests: Complete Blood Count (CBC)