A blood test is one ofmost informative and common diagnostic methods for many diseases. Quite often, patients are offered to undergo analysis on WBC in the blood. What it is? This analysis is a study of white blood cell count. This biochemical study relates to the general type of analysis. The main purpose of the meeting is to determine how many white blood cells are contained in serum. The result of this study is a picture of the general condition of a person and the level of his immunity. It should also be said that the level of leukocytes is one of the most significant indicators of the patient's body.
WBC: features and leukocyte formula
In general, the WBC blood count is determined bymainly with leukocyte formula. There are five types of leukocytes studied during this procedure: eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes and basophils. Under the leukocyte formula refers to the ratio in percent of these species. Consider leukocytes in more detail.
Neutrophils
They are the most numerous and performthe main role in maintaining human immunity. Normally, neutrophils are contained in the blood of an adult in an amount of from 60 to 75 percent, and in children between the ages of six and twelve years, their number can vary between 30 and 65 percent. This is able to reveal the WBC indicator in a blood test. Decoding and the norm in women will also be considered by us.
If the neutrophil level rises (statecalled neutrophilia), this indicates the presence of any infectious disease. There are a lot of them: bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, sinusitis, intestinal infection, thyroiditis, arthritis, pancreatitis, peritonitis, gangrene, abscess, osteomyelitis, phlegmon, cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, uremia.
With a decrease in the level of neutrophils, that is, withneutropenia, it is possible to suspect the presence of other infections, such as viral hepatitis, influenza, rubella, chickenpox, typhoid fever, aplastic anemia, acute leukemia, thyrotoxicosis. Consider why else you might need to decipher the blood on the WBC.
Lymphocytes
Лимфоциты являются особой разновидностью leukocytes, responsible for creating a specific type of body immunity. It is worth noting that in the blood of children up to four to six years old, this species is predominant. Only when a person grows up from this age, neutrophils gradually begin to predominate over lymphocytes. In the blood of an adult in normal content of lymphocytes should range from 20 to 35 percent. If the lymphocytes in the blood are elevated, this can 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 increase significantly when a person has lymphocytic leukemia, that is, a bone marrow lesion in the form of a tumor.
Eosinophils
Eosinophils protect the body from allergicreactions and parasites. Their blood rate in the WBC analysis should range from one to five percent among all types of white blood cells. Parasitic infections (ascariasis, echinococcosis, enterobiosis, giardiasis, opisthorchiasis), allergic reactions, malignant neoplasms, rheumatoid arthritis, diseases of the hematopoietic system, periarteritis nodosa, scleroderma can cause the increased content of this species. Eosinophils decrease in purulent processes, sepsis, at the very beginning of the onset of inflammation, in case of poisoning with heavy metals.
Monocytes
Моноциты являются незрелыми клетками крови, transformed when macrophages enter the tissue. The latter, in turn, absorb foreign microorganisms, various pathogens, dead cells. Judging by the decoding of the WBC blood test, normally monocytes should be contained in an amount of from four to ten percent. If their content is increased (the condition is called monocytosis), then this indicates lymphoma, lymphogranulomatosis, certain types of leukemia, tuberculosis, subacute endocarditis, sepsis, malaria, mononucleosis, brucellosis, toxoplasmosis, syphilis. In the case of a reduced number of monocytes, one can judge whether the patient has radiation sickness, a lesion or dysfunction of the bone marrow. As you can see, the WBC indicator in the blood test is very informative. The rate of another type of white blood cell is also considered for diagnosis.
Basophils
Basophils, or mast cells, area kind of white blood cells responsible for the release of histamine, that is, a hormone that provokes an allergic reaction of the body. Their normal content is from zero to one percent. Blood basophils increase in the presence of allergic diseases, chronic myeloid leukemia, megakaryoblastic leukemia, systemic mastocytosis, Hodgkin's disease, a number of infections, for example, tuberculosis, chickenpox, influenza. Lower basophil content indicates acute infection, anaphylactic shock, hyperthyroidism, and bronchial asthma.
So consider the normal WBC scores. What is it in the blood, we explained.
WBC rate depending on age and diagnosis
Depending on a particular ageWBC standard rate 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 rate is determined by the state of the organism and the age of the patient. Thus, the reference values of an adult person range from 4-9 * 109 per liter. The level of leukocytes in young children may have an increased rate. The infant rate can reach 12.5 * 109 per liter. Over time, this indicator declines, and the adult rate is reached by fifteen years. In addition, the leukocyte formula, which is the ratio of all blood cells in the body, is taken into account. Since the patient donates to the 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 blood is donated to the WBC. The rate for women by age is presented in the table below.
Deviations
An increased white blood cell count indicatessuch a phenomenon as leukocytosis. It should be noted that it can be physiological and appear in a healthy person, as well as pathological, that is, to develop against the background of any disease. In the case of an increase in the physiological nature, it is possible to judge the factors that influence the change in the content of leukocytes. It may be due to:
- physical exertion;
- overheating or overcooling;
- pregnancy;
- a surge of psycho-emotional nature.
We present a table of contents of various forms of leukocytes, depending on the age of patients.
- all sorts of infections;
- meningitis, that is, the inflammatory process that occurs in the membranes of the spinal cord and brain;
- faces;
- bronchitis;
- pneumonia;
- otitis;
- inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue - phlegmon, abscess, felon;
- acute pancreatitis;
- suppurations and inflammations of the abdominal cavity - peritonitis, appendicitis;
- leukemia, that is, tumor diseases;
- chronic kidney failure;
- diabetic coma;
- heart attacks;
- uremia;
- traumatic tissue damage;
- eclampsia;
- acute bleeding;
- thyroid disease.
Recommendations
It is because of the presence of ordinary externalfactors that change performance, a blood test should be donated only in the morning and always before meals. When deciphering this study can be identified various kinds of inflammatory processes, namely bronchitis, defects of subcutaneous tissue, meningitis, otitis, diseases of the abdominal cavity, certain tumors, injuries, acute bleeding, etc.
A serious decrease in the content of leukocytes is called leukopenia, and this is a rather serious problem that has a direct threat to human life.
It must be said that when deciphering this blood test, the causes that directly affect the leukocyte level can be detected:
- pathology, which has a depressant effect on the production of leukocytes in the bone marrow;
- cancer associated with 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, interests many.
Features of preparation
Before a blood test is necessaryrefrain from eating for at least 10-12 hours. It is allowed to drink only pure water without gas, coffee and tea are prohibited. This is due to the fact that the level of white blood cells rises a few hours after eating. You should also not drink alcoholic beverages a couple of days before blood sampling, since they adversely affect the body, may affect the change in indicators, as a result of which the result will be wrong. It is also necessary to avoid stress and emotional stress before analysis. In addition, you need to refrain from serious physical exertion for two or three days before visiting the laboratory. Women need to pay attention to the possible pregnancy and the period of the cycle, because before the onset of menstruation changes in the level of white blood cells occur.
Now we know what this WBC is in the blood.
