White blood cell count is commonly ordered even though it has no value as a screening test.
White blood Cells include
– Mostly Neutrophils (60-70%)
– Lymphocytes (30-40%)
– Monocytes (2-8%)
– Eosinophils (1-4%)
– Band or Immature Neutrophils (0-3%). These appear with severe infections when there is recruitment of neutrophils mature or immature in a massive scale. When there are more than 10% immature neutrophils in circulation it is called bandemia.
High White blood cells and in particular Neutrophils are seen in:
– Infections such as pneumonia
– Inflammation
– Smoking
– Medications such as steroids, lithium
– Exercise / Stress
– Leukemia/Cancer
Low White blood cells or Neutrophils are seen in:
– After infections with bacteria or viruses
– Medications such as Cancer drugs
– Immune related such as in Systemic Lupus
– Vitamin Deficiency such as Vitamin B12 deficiency
– Leukemia / Cancer
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