Normal wbc count

The normal WBC count is usually between 4500 and 11,000/mm³ and may vary in a particular individual at different times of the day. A minor variation outside the normal range is not significant as long as the differential count and the peripheral blood smear are both normal. However, some early disorder, whether infectious or myeloproliferative, is not necessarily ruled out.

Mild to moderate leukocytosis (11,000-17,000/mm³): mild to moderate elevation of the WBC count usually indicates infectious disease, mainly of bacterial etiology. Usually, the leukocytosis increases with the severity of the infection. However, there are exceptions to this rule, particularly in elderly patients in whom severe sepsis can coexist with only a modest leukocytosis. As mentioned previously, the differential WBC count is of additional help.

Leukemoid reaction: occasionally such massive leukocytosis accompanies a systemic disease that the blood picture of leukemia is simulated. When a blood picture looks like leukemia but is not, the term "leukemoid reaction" is used. Severe sepsis, miliary tuberculosis, and other nonmalignant infectious conditions are among the more common causes.

In the differentiation of myelogenous leukemia versus leukemoid reaction determination of the leukocyte alkaline phosphatase is helpful. This enzyme is high in leukemoid reaction and is decreased in myelogenous leukemia. Also, the presence of Philadelphia antigen is specific for the majority of cases of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Leukopenia: a decreased absolute WBC count (leukopenia) can be mild (3000-5000/mm³), moderate (1500-3000/mm³), or extremely severe (<1500/mm³), and may be associated with diminution of the WBC count as a whole, decreases in neutrophils, or diminution of all the blood particles (pancytopenia).

Complete Blood Count (cbc)

Test	Name	Increased/Decreased
WBC	White Blood Cell	May be increased with infections, inflammation, cancer, leukemia; decreased with some medications (such as methotrexate), some autoimmune conditions, some severe infections, bone marrow failure, andcongenitalmarrow aplasia (marrow doesn't develop normally)
% Neutrophil	Neutrophil/Band/Seg/Gran	This is a dynamic population that varies somewhat from day to day depending on what is going on in the body. Significant increases in particular types are associated with different temporary/acuteand/orchronicconditions. An example of this is the increased number of lymphocytes seen with lymphocytic leukemia
% Lymphs	Lymphocyte
% Mono	Monocyte
% Eos	Eosinophil
% Baso	Basophil
RBC	Red Blood Cell	Decreased with anemia; increased when too many made and with fluid loss due to diarrhea, dehydration, burns
Hgb	Hemoglobin	Mirrors RBC results
Hct	Hematocrit	Mirrors RBC results
MCV	Mean Cell Volume	Increased with B^12 and Folate deficiency; decreased with iron deficiency and thalassemia
MCH	Mean Cell Hemoglobin	Mirrors MCV results
MCHC	Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration	May be decreased when MCV is decreased; increases limited to amount of Hgb that will fit inside a RBC
Platelet	Platelet	Decreased or increased with conditions that affect platelet production; decreased when greater numbers used, as with bleeding; decreased with some inherited disorders (such as Wiskott-Aldrich, Bernard-Soulier), with Systemic lupus erythematosus, pernicious anemia, hypersplenism (spleen takes too many out of circulation),leukemia, and chemotherapy
MPV	Mean Platelet Volume	Vary with platelet production; younger platelets are larger than older ones

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