What will your cbc show if you are in sepsis or septic shock?

Many WBCs: The main thing it will show is many white blood cells. However, this is seen with any infection. There may or may not be defective red blood cells due to the inflammation and toxins from the pathogen. Sepsis is determined by vital signs and a source of infection. Septic shock is when there is also at least one organ severely affected or failing (usually temporary).

Possibilities....: In general, if the sepsis/septic shock is due to a bacterial infection, the white blood cells can be either elevated or suppressed. There may be an anemia present and the platelet count may also be elevated or suppressed.

Low or high count: The white count can be high (most common), normal, or low (worst prognosis). It is one of the criteria used to define the syndrome (low or high white count), so it is routinely checked in the severely ill.