A clinical blood test is one of the most informative and common diagnostic methods for many diseases. Quite often, patients are offered to take a blood test for WBC. What it is? This analysis is a study of white blood cell count. This biochemical study refers to the general type of analysis. The main purpose of its conduct is to determine how many leukocytes are contained in serum. The result of this study is a picture of the general condition of a person and his level of immunity. It must also be said that the level of leukocytes is one of the most significant indicators of the patient's body.
WBC: features and white blood cell count
In a general blood test, WBC is determined predominantly with a white blood cell count. There are five types of leukocytes studied during this procedure: eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes and basophils. The leukocyte formula refers to the ratio in percent of these species. Consider the white blood cells in more detail.
Neutrophils
They are the most numerous and play a major role in maintaining human immunity. Normally, neutrophils are contained in the blood of an adult in an amount of 60 to 75 percent, and in children aged six to twelve years, their number can range between 30 and 65 percent. This is able to detect the WBC in a blood test. The interpretation and norm in women will also be examined by us.
If the level of neutrophils rises (a condition called neutrophilia), then this indicates the presence of an infectious disease. There are quite a lot of them: bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, sinusitis, intestinal infection, thyroiditis, arthritis, pancreatitis, peritonitis, gangrene, abscess, osteomyelitis, phlegmon, cancerous tumors, diabetes, heart attacks, uremia.
With a decrease in the level of neutrophils, that is, with neutropenia, one can suspect the presence of other infections, for example, viral hepatitis, influenza, rubella, chickenpox, typhoid fever, aplastic anemia, acute leukemia, thyrotoxicosis. Consider why else you might need a blood transcript on WBC.
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes are a special kind of white blood cells responsible for creating a specific type of body immunity. It is worth noting that in the blood of children under four to six years of age, this species is predominant. Only when a person grows out of this age, neutrophils gradually begin to prevail over lymphocytes. In the blood of an adult, normal lymphocyte content should range from 20 to 35 percent. If the blood lymphocytes are elevated, this may be evidence of the development of viral infections in the patient, such as adenovirus, influenza, parainfluenza, thyrotoxicosis, tuberculosis, childhood infections (whooping cough, scarlet fever, measles, rubella), bronchial asthma. Lymphocytes significantly increase if a person has lymphocytic leukemia, that is, a bone marrow lesion in the form of a tumor.
Eosinophils
Eosinophils protect the body from allergic reactions and parasites. Their blood norm in the WBC analysis should range from one to five percent among the number of all types of white blood cells. The cause of the increased content of this variety may be parasitic infections (ascariasis, echinococcosis, enterobiasis, giardiasis, opisthorchiasis), allergic reactions, malignant neoplasms, rheumatoid arthritis, diseases of the hematopoietic system, periarteritis nodosa, scleroderma. Eosinophils are reduced during purulent processes, sepsis, at the very beginning of the onset of inflammation, with poisoning by heavy metals.
Monocytes
Monocytes are immature blood cells that turn when they enter macrophage tissue. The latter, in turn, absorb foreign microorganisms, various pathogens, dead cells. Judging by the decoding of the WBC blood test, normal monocytes should be contained in an amount of from four to ten percent. If their content is increased (a condition called monocytosis), then this indicates lymphosis, lymphogranulomatosis, various types of leukemia, tuberculosis, subacute endocarditis, sepsis, malaria, mononucleosis, brucellosis, toxoplasmosis, syphilis. In the case of a reduced number of monocytes, one can judge the presence of radiation sickness, damage or dysfunction of the bone marrow in the patient. As you can see, the WBC indicator in the blood test is very informative. The norm of another type of white blood cell is also considered for diagnosis.
Basophils
Basophils, or mast cells, are a type of white blood cell responsible for the release of histamine, that is, a hormone that provokes an allergic reaction in the body. Their normal content is from zero to one percent. Blood basophils increase in the presence of allergic diseases, chronic myelogenous leukemia, megakaryoblastic leukemia, systemic mastocytosis, Hodgkin's disease, a number of infections, for example, tuberculosis, chickenpox, and flu. A lower basophil content indicates acute infection, anaphylactic shock, hyperthyroidism, bronchial asthma.
So, we will consider normal indicators of WBC. What is it in the blood, we explained.
WBC rate based on age and diagnosis
Depending on a particular age category, the WBC norm will have certain indicators. In this analysis, the number of leukocytes in general and the indicator of each leukocyte type in particular will be calculated. The norm is determined by the state of the body and the age of the patient. So, the reference values of an adult range from 4-9 * 109 per liter. The level of leukocytes in young children may have an increased rate. The infant norm can reach 12.5 * 109 per liter. Over time, this indicator decreases, and the adult norm is reached by fifteen years. In addition, the leukocyte formula is taken into account, which is understood as the ratio of all blood cells in the body. Since the patient submits WBC as part of a clinical blood test, the procedure is standard and does not require complicated preparation. In the morning (necessarily on an empty stomach) in the laboratory donates blood to WBC. The norm for women by age is presented in the table below.
Deviations
An elevated white blood cell count indicates a phenomenon such as leukocytosis. It is worth noting that it can be physiological and appear in a healthy person, as well as pathological, that is, develop against the background of any disease. In the case of an increase in the physiological nature, one can judge those factors that affect the change in the content of leukocytes. It may be due to:
- physical activity;
- overheating or hypothermia;
- pregnancy
- surge of psycho-emotional nature.
We present a table of the contents of various forms of leukocytes depending on the age of the patients.
In accordance with the decoding of a blood test for WBC in adults, leukocytosis indicates the presence of one of the following diseases:
- various infections;
- meningitis, that is, an inflammatory process that occurs in the membranes of the spinal cord and brain;
- funny faces;
- bronchitis;
- pneumonia;
- otitis;
- inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue - phlegmon, abscess, panaritium;
- acute pancreatitis;
- suppuration and inflammation of the abdominal cavity - peritonitis, appendicitis;
- leukemia, i.e. tumor diseases;
- chronic kidney failure;
- diabetic coma;
- heart attacks;
- uremia;
- injuries of tissue of a traumatic type;
- eclampsia;
- acute bleeding;
- thyroid disease.
Recommendations
It is because of the presence of ordinary external factors that change indicators, a blood test must be taken only in the morning and always before eating. When decoding this study, various kinds of inflammatory processes can be identified, namely bronchitis, defects of the subcutaneous tissue, meningitis, otitis media, diseases of the abdominal cavity, certain neoplasms, injuries, acute bleeding, etc.
A serious decrease in the content of leukocytes is called leukopenia, and this is a rather serious problem, which has an immediate threat to human life.
It must be said that when decoding this blood test, causes can be found that directly affect the leukocyte level:
- pathology that has a depressing effect on the production of white blood cells in the bone marrow;
- oncological diseases accompanied by metastases;
- an increase in the size of the spleen;
- radiation sickness;
- tuberculosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, syphilis, viral hepatitis, brucellosis.
How to prepare for the WBC? What is it in the blood, many are interested.
Features of preparation
Before taking a blood test, you must refrain from eating at least 10-12 hours. It is allowed to drink only clean water without gas, coffee and tea are prohibited. This is due to the fact that the level of leukocytes rises several hours after eating. Also, do not drink alcoholic drinks a couple of days before blood sampling, since they negatively affect the body, can affect the change in indicators, as a result of which the result will be incorrect. It is also necessary to avoid possible stress and emotional stress before analysis. In addition, you need to refrain from serious physical exertion two to three days before visiting the laboratory. Women need to pay attention to possible pregnancy and the period of the cycle, since before the onset of menstruation, changes in the level of leukocytes occur.
Now we know what WBC is in the blood.