In diagnosing chronic myelogenous leukemia (other than a biopsy), what blood tests within the cbc are considered high/low indicators for it?

The earliest clue of CML often is an abnormally high platelet count. Elevated total WBC count with predominant neutrophils (also called granulocytes) usually is present. If those these are normal, CML is extremely unlikely.

In CML the white blood cell counts are typically elevated, red blood cells are decreased, platelets can be either elevated or decreased. Cytogenetic studies looking for a specific chromosomal abnormality called Philadelphia chromosome help in establishing the diagnosis when present.