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WBC is a measurement of the number of white blood cells and is used in blood count results. Based on this indicator, the patient’s health is assessed, taking into account the current state of his immune system. The WBC test informs about the level of leukocytes in the blood, but should be interpreted in parallel with other blood parameters. What are the WBC standards? What is an elevated or too low leukocyte count?
WBC in morphology – what does it mean?
WBC is an indicator that may be found in blood count results. The name of this parameter comes from the English language where WBC refers to white blood cells, that is, white blood cells. WBC is therefore precisely the number of white blood cells, or leukocytes in a unit of blood.
The importance of leukocytes in blood tests
The main role of leukocytes in the human body is to participate in immune reactions. White blood cells participate in the process of fighting pathogens that manage to penetrate the body – they recognize pathogens, capture them and destroy them. In the blood count, the number of leukocytes is determined by the WBC index, informing the interpreter about the general state of the immune system. However, this parameter does not provide a complete insight into the patient’s health and should be analyzed in relation to other test results.
In the context of resilience, apart from the WBC, attention is also paid to the number of individual types of leukocytes and their percentage in the total number of white blood cells. The subsequent stages of the immune system’s reaction require leukocytes to perform very specific functions. Individual groups of white blood cells are therefore appropriately specialized and carry out specific tasks. Among leukocytes, the following can be distinguished:
- neutrophils;
- eozynofile;
- basophils;
- lymphocytes;
- monocytes;
- macrophages.
Leukocyte types can also be specified in the results of the blood test – a peripheral blood smear is useful here. The WBC index remains a general source of information about the number of immune cells, but for a more accurate diagnosis, your doctor may need information about the number of different leukocyte types and the percentage formula of white blood cells.
WBC – standards
Normal white blood cell counts depend on age. In adults, the WBC norm is usually in the range of 4-10 / μlalthough the range may vary slightly from lab to lab. Deviations from the norm do not always indicate health problems, as the results may be influenced by conditions such as stress, infection and pregnancy. Also note that different standards apply to children.
WBC in a child oscillates in different limits than in the case of adults, with the norms depending on the age. In the case of newborns, the correct result is from 9 to 30 thousand / μl, while a one-year-old child should receive WBC at the level of 6-20 thousand / μl. In older children, the norm is gradually narrowing, so children aged 4-6 should reach 5-15,5 thousand / μl, and the norm for a child at the age of 10 is 4,5-13,5 thousand / μl.
The interpretation of morphology results, including WBC level testing, should be performed by a physician. For a complete assessment of the patient’s health, it is necessary to juxtapose the WBC with other results as well as with the symptoms reported by the patient.
WBC in pregnancy
In the case of pregnant women, the WBC index naturally increases, so following the standard norms for adults in such a situation is not entirely reliable. In pregnant women, the number of peripheral blood leukocytes may increase up to 15 / μl, which is especially observed in the third trimester of pregnancy. As changes in the number of white blood cells can also be a sign of infection or other medical conditions, if you have an alarming WBC result, especially if you have symptoms, consult your doctor.
Read more: What are the evidence of elevated leukocytes in pregnancy?
Increased WBC index – what does it show?
Increased levels of WBC, or increased production of white blood cells by the body, is a condition known as leukocytosis. It may have a physiological basis, and therefore appear as a result of physical exertion, a full meal or stress. It is then not a disturbing sign, but the body’s normal response. The same is true of the increase in WBC during pregnancy and the naturally occurring high concentration of white blood cells in newborns.
Other possible causes of increased WBC can be from disease conditions such as infections caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi, but also from overheating or cold, burns, or the body’s reaction to pain. High leukocyte counts are sometimes associated with serious conditions, including heart attacks, chronic inflammatory diseases, and cancer including leukemia.
WBC also increases as a result of taking certain medications, including aspirin, heparin or quinidine, so when interpreting the test results by a doctor, be sure to inform him about the recently or continued medications.
Low WBC index – what does it indicate?
It is evidenced by a decrease in the level of leukocytes in the blood too low WBC ratio – this condition is known as leukopenia. If a patient experiences a decrease in WBC below the norm, it may be information about the just beginning of infection, malnutrition, severe stress, but also long-term use of drugs, including commonly available painkillers.
Reduction in white blood cells also occurs in the course of certain diseases, including liver and spleen diseases, AIDS, sepsis, autoimmune diseases, anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, bone marrow damage and leukemia. Rare causes of leukopenia include diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria. Leukocyte levels may also drop in people treated with radiation or chemotherapy.
Check it out: How to read the morphology results?
When to do a WBC test?
It is worth measuring the WBC index prophylactically, i.e. as part of the annual blood count. The patient may also be induced to use the laboratory’s services by specific health problems, including recurrent infections or reduced immunity. The indication for the examination of WBC is also the suspicion and diagnosis of inflammatory, autoimmune, systemic diseases or cancer.
WBC is also a useful parameter in the detection of allergies, as well as monitoring the course of the disease and therapeutic therapies. If the morphology is performed without a doctor’s recommendation, it is advisable to consult the results in order to obtain an interpretation of the results. Such an analysis is based not only on the numbers, but also on the patient’s symptoms and the possible history of the disease.
Read also:
- Leukocytes in the urine
- Life-saving research – blood tests
- Morphology – when is it worth doing?