What should be the normal wbc count

Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away. You will have this test to find out how many WBCs you have. Your provider may order this test to help diagnose conditions such as:.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different labs. Some labs use different measurements or may test different specimens. Talk to your provider about your test results. A low number of WBCs is called leukopenia. A count less than 4, cells per microliter 4. There is little risk involved with having your blood taken.

Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another, and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others. Differential leukocyte count Diff - peripheral blood.

Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures. Resources for the hematologist: interpretive comments and selected reference values for neonatal, pediatric, and adult populations. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. Your doctor might order a WBC count if you have the following symptoms:. A WBC count measures the number of white blood cells in your blood. There are five different types of white blood cells:. If you see amounts for these five cells on your results, your doctor ordered a WBC count differential test.

This can help them solve what's causing your symptoms. WBC counts are often part of a more extensive test called a complete blood cell CBC count Doctors order CBC counts if you're getting a physical or if they suspect you have an infection or a specific condition. Another reason might be to make sure your medication level isn't too strong.

Getting your WBC count requires a simple blood draw. A healthcare practitioner will use a thin needle to collect blood from one of your veins. You usually get the results back from the lab in a few days. Your doctor might tell you to stop taking your medicine, vitamins, or supplements a few days before your test.

That's to make sure they don't affect your results. The WBC count is also known as a leukocyte or white count. There's not a set number that defines a "normal" WBC count. Results are reported in ranges of low, normal, or high. Labs can differ on their measurements and how they define a high or a low WBC count.

WBC counts also vary from person to person. Factors like your age, sex, race, and the time of day your blood was drawn can affect your results. For example, researchers in China studied blood samples of 46, individuals. The participants ranged from high schoolers to retired workers.

They found that levels of some white blood cells change in women after they undergo menopause. Another large study conducted by UK researchers suggested timing matters. Most test results provide a reference for what the lab considers high, low, and normal ranges for someone of your age and sex.

The figure below is an example of a range table. The units are in cells per cubic millimeter mm3. White blood cells fight infection and inflammation in the body. WBC count results are divided into three ranges, low, normal, and high. The WBC count isn't specific enough to diagnose any particular disease. However, it can provide information to help your doctor figure out what might be going on inside you. If your WBC count is high, it's called leukocytosis. The condition could be caused by:.

If your WBC count is low, you have leukopenia. The condition could be due to:. Many prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause an abnormal WBC count. That's why it's essential to go over your medical history thoroughly with your doctor.

Make sure to list all of the drugs you're taking. A common side effect of many medicines is that they can lower your WBC count. The classes of drugs that can do this include chemotherapy, anti-seizure, and antibiotics.

Some medicines can raise your WBC count. Names of common drugs that can do this include:. If your WBC count is abnormal, your doctor may order more tests depending on your medical history and symptoms. These could include tests to see if you have:. If your WBC count comes back abnormal, it's important to follow through with your doctor and determine the cause. Studies have shown that high WBC counts can be a red flag for a severe health problem.

Researchers did blood tests on 74, women who had gone through menopause. They repeated the tests three years later and followed the women for 16 years. The researchers found that high WBC counts were associated with an increased risk of death, especially from heart disease. They believe this is due to inflammation occurring within the body.

Other studies have linked getting more than one high WBC count to an increased risk of dying from stroke and cancer. It typically occurs in response to the following conditions:. Certain respiratory conditions, such as a whooping cough or tuberculosis , may cause the levels of white blood cells to increase. In some cases, all white blood cells become affected. However, some people have a specific disease in which only one type of white blood cell is affected.

If levels of one particular type of white blood cell increase, this may be due to a specific trigger:. There is, on occasion, no identifiable cause for the increase in white blood cells. This is known as idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. It can lead to serious complications, such as damage to the heart, lung, liver, skin, and nervous system. White blood cell levels increase significantly during healthy pregnancy because of the physical stress the body endures during this time.

The levels start to rise within the first trimester and continue to rise into the third trimester. During labor and in the hours following delivery, white blood cell levels may surge again, to between 9, and 25, white blood cells in every microliter of blood. This is in response to the physical stresses and trauma of labor. Within 6—8 weeks of delivery, white blood cells return to their normal levels.

A doctor may use a blood test to determine levels of white blood cells. If levels of white blood cells are lower than usual, this may be a sign that the person has reduced immune activity. This can occur as a result of conditions similar to HIV , or immunosuppressant medications. A deficiency of white blood cells is why people with conditions or medications that suppress the immune system have an increased risk of infection.

A number of conditions, collectively known as myeloproliferative disorders, can occur in the bone marrow. These develop when too many immature blood cells are produced, leading to an imbalance.

Myeloproliferative disorders are rare conditions that may or may not become malignant. The exact effects of a high white blood cell count depend on the condition or factor causing them.

After noting any symptoms, a doctor can use a blood test to assess the white blood cell count, and further tests and examinations will often be necessary to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem.