What does wbc mean in a blood test? What is the dangerous amount of wbc?
The wbc test is a test to measure the number of white blood cells.. White blood cells are important cells in the body and defend it against pathogens.. The doctor needs the wbc result in the blood test to diagnose diseases such as immune system deficiency, cancer or allergies..
If your blood test shows that the number of these blood cells is lower or higher than normal, you should see a specialist doctor for a detailed interpretation. wbc is prescribed?
- Symptoms of high or low white blood cells
- Causes of low white blood cells
- Causes of increased white blood cells
- What are the conditions for wbc testing?
What is wbc in blood test?
Before you get to know the concept of w.b.c in the test, you must first know what wbc is.... Wbc or white blood cells is a sign that is used to count the number of white blood cells.... In fact, wbc is a type of complementary test for Complete Blood Count (CBC) which is used to check the number of white blood cells and the number of white blood cells... When a specialist doctor after a physical examination for a certain disease becomes suspicious, prescribes this test to count the number of white blood cells.
Learn more:What is a blood eosinophil test?
What is the purpose of white blood cell count (WBC)?
A high or low WBC count compared to its normal level may indicate an underlying disease.. A white blood cell count can reveal hidden infections in the body and alert doctors to undiagnosed diseases such as autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies, and blood disorders. The test also helps doctors monitor the effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy in people with cancer.White blood cells, which are called leukocytes, are important cells that defend the body against pathogenic agents.... In such cases, the number of white blood cells that have different types increases.... Different types of white blood cells have different shapes and their location in the body is different from each other.... It is interesting to know that some diseases and physical conditions can divide the number and appearance of white blood cells into five categories..
- neutrophils
- Lymphocytes
- eosinophils
- Monocytes
- Basophil
When is the wbc test prescribed?
The white blood cell count (WBC) test is considered a general test and is usually prescribed by a doctor for many conditions.... When a doctor suspects a specific case, such as the following, the doctor will perform the WBC test in a special way:
- Leukemia
- Infections Anemia
Learn more:What is a T cell count test?
wbc count in blood test
Each microliter of an adult's blood should normally contain about 4,000 to 11,000 white blood cells, or WBC, which may vary due to factors such as age and sex... Only a doctor can interpret different levels of white blood cells or dangerous levels of WBC in a test..
The normal range of white blood cells in children is different than in adults, and babies are usually born with a higher number of white blood cells, which gradually decreases with age. According to statistics from the University of Rochester Medical Center (UMRC), the normal range of white blood cells per microliter of blood (mcL) is as follows:
Read more:What is the purpose of white blood cell count?
These normal ranges may vary from laboratory to laboratory.. The types of cells that make up white blood cells usually have a normal percentage of the total WBC count. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), the normal percentage of white blood cell types in the total cbc count is as follows:
A high or low percentage of a certain type of WBC in a blood test can be a sign of an underlying disease that should be examined by a specialist doctor.
Interpretation of wbc in blood test
Abnormal WBC blood test results are classified based on numbers that are above or below the normal range for your age. In fact, low or high white blood cell counts can indicate a blood disorder or other disease. To identify the exact cause of a low or high WBC count, your doctor will look at several factors, such as the list of medications you are taking, your symptoms, and your medical history.
Learn more: RDW in blood test
Symptoms of high or low white blood cells
Symptoms of decreased WBC count in blood test include the following:
- Body pain
- Fever
- Shiver
- Headache
A high WBC count is often asymptomatic... However, if an underlying disease causes the white blood cell count to increase, it may cause its own symptoms...
Causes of Low White Blood Cells
Leukopenia is a medical term used to describe a low white blood cell count.... A low wbc in a blood test can be caused by:
- HIV
- Autoimmune disorders
- Bone marrow disorders or damage
- Lymphoma Severe infections
- Liver and spleen diseases
- Lupus
- Radiotherapy
- Some medicines such as antibiotics
Read more:Blood diseases: white and red blood cells, platelets and plasma
The cause of increase in white blood cells
Leukocytosis is a medical term used to describe a high number of white blood cells.. Experts believe that a high wbc in blood tests is caused by the following:
- Smoking
- Infections such as tuberculosis
- tumor in the bone marrow
- blood cancer
- Inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis and bowel disease
- Pressure
- Sports
- tissue damage
- Pregnancy allergy
- Asthma
- Some medications such as corticosteroids
Is an increase in the number of white blood cells a sign of cancer?
High WBC in blood test and even less than the normal range does not necessarily mean cancer.. Various factors, including those mentioned above, affect the decrease or increase in the number of white blood cells..
Although cancer affects the number of blood cells, it is not possible to tell if a high WBC is a sign of this disease in a blood test..
Learn more: Symptoms of blood lipids
How is the white blood cell count done?
The procedure for the WBC test is similar to the CBC test.. In fact, the white blood cell count is part of the complete blood count (CBC) test, and a venous blood sample can be used for both tests.. To check the WBC level, blood must be drawn by a healthcare professional or lab technician.. The blood sample only takes a few minutes and you may feel some pain.
How to draw blood from young children and infants is slightly different.... In this way, the blood drawing technician first pierces the skin with a lancet, then uses a test strip or a small vial to collect blood.
What are the WBC test conditions?
The white blood cell count (wbc) test does not require special preparation such as fasting... You can go to the laboratory for the test after receiving the relevant prescription from the general practitioner or hematologist.
Is it dangerous to reduce the number of white blood cells?
The low level of wbc in the blood test, which is described by the scientific term leukopenia, indicates a decrease in the body's defense power.... White blood cells play an important role in defending and protecting the body against pathogens.. Blood does not have a specific cause and resolves itself.
Which drugs affect wbc result in blood test?
Some medications can interfere with your test results and increase or decrease your WBC count.. This is why it is recommended that you list all the medications you are taking with your doctor before having a wbc test.
Medications that affect the result of the white blood cell count test include:
- Corticosteroids
- quinidine heparin
- Clozapine Antibiotics
- Antihistamines
- Diuretics
- Anticonvulsant
- Sulfonamides Chemotherapy drugs
Can nutrition change the level of wbc in the test?.
Experts believe that nutrition is somewhat effective in increasing the WBC level... For example, consuming enough protein is effective in the blood WBC count.... On the other hand, B vitamins, especially B12 and folate, play an important role in the health of the immune system... If you are being treated for cancer or other causes of leukocytosis (high levels of white blood cells), talk to your hematologist before taking any supplements... because supplements may interfere with your treatment. do.
Complications caused by the count of white blood cells
The white blood cell count is done through a blood draw, and complications are very rare.. However, if you have small veins, the blood draw process may be a little more difficult.. In such cases, the lab technician may not be able to find the vein, or people may feel a little pain after inserting the needle into the elbow vein.. or a burning sensation during the blood draw...
Among the rare complications of the wbc test, the following can be mentioned:- Infection at the needle site
- Excessive bleeding
- Dizziness or fainting
- Subcutaneous bleeding (hematoma)
Read more:Learn more about acute lymphocytic leukemia
Guide to see a doctor
The wbc test is one of the general tests and part of the complete blood count test (cbc) that the doctor prescribes for many cases such as annual checkups..
To interpret wbc in blood test, you can go to the general practitioner, if there is a problem in the production of blood cells, the doctor will refer you to a hematologist or a hematologist.... To learn about the best general practitioners and specialists, including oncologists, you can visit the GCORP LLC website...
GCORP LLC provides you with the possibility to make a text and video appointment through the online appointment system for a face-to-face consultation or an online blood and cancer specialist, while checking the opinions of other users.
Frequently Asked Questions
The doctor, by observing a high level of white blood cells, diseases such as infection (bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic), inflammation (joints, lung and intestine), autoimmune diseases (lupus or rheumatism, types of body cancer (rheumatoid arthritis) and arthritis..
wbc means the measurement of the number of white blood cells in the test.
No... it is not necessary to do a special test including fasting
Sources: healthline | Medicalnet
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