Can a complete blood count (CBC) show whether cardiac enzymes are elevated?

Under normal circumstances, a routine blood test cannot determine whether cardiac enzymes are elevated. The details are as follows:

A routine blood test, also known as a complete blood count (CBC), evaluates the status of blood and detects diseases by analyzing the number and morphology of blood cells. It typically includes measurements of red blood cell count, hemoglobin, white blood cells, white blood cell differential count, and platelets. However, it does not usually include cardiac enzymes, so it cannot indicate whether cardiac enzyme levels are high or not. Cardiac enzymes refer to a group of enzymes present in heart muscle, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and its isoenzymes. To test for cardiac enzymes, a blood sample of 2–3 ml should be collected on an empty stomach in the morning, and serum is typically used as the specimen for testing.

Patients are advised to seek timely medical attention when experiencing any discomfort and undergo appropriate examinations and treatment under a doctor's guidance, which helps promote recovery.