If your doctor thinks that you might have an infection, inflammatory illness, immune deficiency, bone marrow disease or allergy and; to monitor treatment
White Blood Cell Count
White Blood Cell Count
Also Known As
WBC
Leucocyte count
White count
Formal Name
White Blood Cell Count
This article was last reviewed
on
This article waslast modified
on 9 January 2025.
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?
When To Get Tested?
As part of a full blood count (FBC), which may be requested for a variety of reasons
Sample Required?
A blood sample taken from a vein in your arm or from a finger-prick or in babies a heel-prick
Test Preparation Needed?
None
Accordion Title
Common Questions
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How is it used?
Conditions or drugs that weaken the immune system, such as HIV infection or chemotherapy, cause a decrease in white blood cells. The WBC count detects dangerously low numbers of these cells.
The WBC count is used to suggest the presence of an infection, an allergy, or bone marrow disorder. It is also used to help monitor the body's response to various treatments. -
When is it requested?
A WBC count is part of the full blood count (FBC), which is requested for a variety of reasons. Changes in the WBC, whether it is high or low, may indicate a worsening or improvement in a medical condition.
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What does the test result mean?
An elevated number of white blood cells is called leucocytosis. This can result from bacterial infections, inflammation, leukaemia and other blood disorders, trauma, medication, or post-operatively. A WBC count of 11.0–17.0x109/L cells would be considered mild to moderate leucocytosis.
A decreased WBC count is called leucopenia. It can result from many different situations, such as
- medication, especially chemotherapy, or radiotherapy
- bone marrow disorder
- vitamin deficiency, such as B12 or folic acid
- liver disease
- an enlarged spleen
- occasionally in inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
- some infections (particularly viral infections)
- diseases of the immune system
A count of 3.0–4.0x109/L cells would be considered mild leucopenia.
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Is there anything else I should know?
Increased WBC levels may be seen during the late stages of pregnancy.
If you have had your spleen removed, you may have a persistent mild to moderately increased WBC count.
The WBC count tends to be lower in the morning and higher in the late afternoon. WBC counts change with age with normal newborns and infants typically have a higher WBC counts than adults. It is not uncommon for the elderly to fail to develop leucocytosis (a high WBC) as a response to infection.
There are many drugs that cause both increased and decreased WBC counts.
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Are there different types of WBCs?
Yes. There are five main types: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.
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How do you treat abnormal WBC levels?
Treatment depends upon the many causes and is not always required. Bacterial infections usually cause increased WBC counts and may be treated with antibiotics.
Leukaemia and other bone marrow disorders may require chemotherapy and other treatments.
Low WBC counts may also require treatment. Severely low WBC counts putting patients at risk of infection (for example after chemotherapy) may require treatment with growth factor injections (GCSF), usually given under the skin.