Monday, March 16, 2015

White Blood Count (WBC, Leukocyte count)


Measure of the total number of leukocytes in whole blood. Counted on automated instruments using light scattering or electrical impedance after lysis of RBCs. WBCs are distinguished from platelets by size. 

Normal Range: 3.4-10 K/µL

increased in: Infection, inflammation, hematologic malignancy, leukemias (AML, ALL, CML, CLL), lymphoma. Drugs: corticosteroids. 
Decreased in: Aplastic anemia (decreased production), B12 or folate deficiency (maturation defect), sepsis (decreased survival). Drugs: phenothiazines, chloramphenicol, aminopyrine. 
Additional: Spurious increase: with high number of nucleated red cells.

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