WBC in the analysis of blood is leukocytes or white blood cells. According to their number, the specialist determines the general condition of a person and the presence of pathological processes in his body. Determining the level of white blood cells helps to identify infectious and inflammatory diseases. The figure jumps point to allergic reactions  and immune disorders.

WBC: what is it

WBC in the analysis indicates the quantitative composition of leukocytes in the blood.

The determination of their level is mandatory in a clinical study of biological material collected from a vein. White blood cells respond to any changes in the body. This process is reflected by their quantitative composition in the blood, after the study.

There are five main types of leukocytes:

• neutrophils;
• basophils;
• eosinophils;
• monocytes;
• lymphocytes.

Neutrophils are considered the main defenders of the body. With the defeat of organs and systems with infectious agents, the rapid production of cells is recorded. Their action is aimed at eliminating dangerous bacteria and viruses. Neutrophils absorb pathogenic bacteria, process and remove them from the body.

Basophils are present in small amounts. Their active production is fixed when potentially dangerous allergens enter the body. Basophils are released upon contact with allergic substances and help block their harmful effects.

Eosinophils contain in their composition special granules with a potent substance. Activation of cells is recorded upon contact with infectious agents.

Monocytes belong to immature blood cells. Their function is to detect infectious, viral and bacterial agents, with further elimination. Monocytes live in the lymph nodes, tissues and blood.

Lymphocytes are responsible for the body’s immune memory. Their action is aimed at strengthening the protective functions and their activation in the event of infection. Each cell type has a special effect and allows the body to resist foreign invasion.

Leukocyte Norm

The norm of white blood cells ranges from 2.5 to 6.0 (u x 10 ^ 9 / l). This indicator can vary depending on the person's age:

• newborns and children under six months - 10-13 units x 10 ^ 9 / l .;
• children from 6 months to 2 years old - 6.5-12.5 units x 10 ^ 9 / l .;
• children from 2 to 5 years old - 5.6-15 units x 10 ^ 9 / l .;
• children 5-10 years old - 4.8-14.5 units x 10 ^ 9 / l .;
• children 10-16 years old - 4.5-13 units x 10 ^ 9 / l .;
• adults - 4-10 units x 10 ^ 9 / l.

These are generally accepted ranges of values. If, after taking the wbc blood test, the decoding showed other data different from the norm, the attending physician recommends that you undergo a series of additional diagnostic studies. The purpose of diagnosis is to determine the cause of deviations and the appointment of further treatment tactics.

WBC analysis: evidence and preparation

The determination of the level of leukocytes is carried out according to the indications of the attending physician. The analysis is required in the following cases:

• suspicion of the development of infectious or inflammatory diseases;
• fever, without related symptoms  cold disease;
• fever or chills, unexplained etiology;
• body aches, including bones, muscles, and joints;
• frequent headaches.

It is necessary to determine the level of white blood cells in case of suspected pathological abnormalities on the part of the body's immune system. The study is mandatory at the stage of active control of inflammatory diseases. Decoding wbc will give a precise definition of the general human condition.

Important: conducting a study is possible only according to the testimony of the attending physician. The specialist must write a referral to check the level of leukocytes. Decoding is carried out only by the attending physician!

Preparation for the study

A blood test is taken in the laboratory, in the morning, on an empty stomach. The last meal is possible 10-12 hours before the collection of biological material. Before analysis, the use of clean water without gas is permissible. It is forbidden to drink coffee, tea and other strong drinks. 3 days before the study, it is necessary to abandon alcohol products.

Caution: Women should consider the phase of the menstrual cycle and possible pregnancy.

During these periods, the level of white blood cells increases significantly, which can affect the reliability of the result.

Decoding results: what do abnormalities indicate

Decryption of wbc in the blood test is carried out by an experienced specialist. Independent attempts can lead to the formulation of an incorrect diagnosis, which is dangerous for health.

The deviation of the level of white blood cells in a big way is characteristic of the following diseases and conditions:

• acute respiratory lesions of the body;
• flu;
• tuberculosis;
• herpetic lesions of the body;
• infectious pathologies;
• viral damage to the body;
• inflammatory processes in the liver;
• toxoplasmosis (infectious lesion of the body due to infection from birds and cats).

Attention: a change in the level of leukocytes is not always associated with damage to the body. Some indicators are able to affect the indicator. medications, in particular, Dilantin and Mephenyoin.

WBC adult blood test: deciphering low rate or what is the reason for this type of abnormality? The decrease in the quantitative composition of leukocytes, due to the following diseases and processes in the body:

• bone marrow damage;
• AIDS (due to a decrease in the body’s immune functions);
• benign and malignant tumors;
• adrenal dysfunction;
• multiple sclerosis.

Steroid drugs can also affect the level of leukocytes. It is impossible to identify the true cause of deviations from the results of a single blood test. To obtain a complete picture of what is happening, it is advisable to undergo a comprehensive examination of the body. Based on the data, the specialist prescribes treatment.

Important: ignoring any abnormalities in the body is dangerous to health. Timely diagnosis - the key to successful and rapid recovery.

The use of hardware methods for the automatic counting of cellular elements during the general blood analysis led to the emergence of many misunderstandings among doctors and patients. This is due to the appearance of unfamiliar abbreviations in the results of such analyzes. One of them is a WBC blood test. Not everyone knows, but this is the usual study of the level of white blood cells. In the classic version of their counting conduct clinical technicians under the microscope. Most modern laboratories are equipped with special equipment, which greatly simplifies this procedure and speeds up its time.

The essence and technique of the study

With the help of the modern WBC blood test, it is possible to investigate in detail both the absolute and relative parameters of the leukocyte sprout of blood. According to him, you can roughly determine the status and number of different types of leukocytes (white blood cells). As in the classical analysis, not only their total number is calculated, but also the composition of different cellular elements (leukocyte formula). Her definition includes:

• Total WBC leukocyte count (at 109 / l or gig / l);
• The absolute number and percentage of stab cells;
• The absolute number and percentage of segmented cells;
• The absolute number and percentage of eosinophils (EOS);
• The absolute number and percentage of basophils (BAS);
• The absolute number and percentage of lymphocytes (LYM);
• The absolute number and percentage of monocytes (MON).

The technique of blood sampling is the same as in the case of a general analysis. This requires capillary blood from a finger. Only this part of the research is done by a laboratory technician. All other calculations are carried out by the apparatus.

Leukocyte change

According to the results of the WBC blood test, two types of changes can be recorded: an increase and a decrease in leukocytes. Their rate is from 4 to 9 g / l. Decryption possible reasons  deviations from the norm are given in the table.

Lymphocytes and leukocytes are the main immunocompetent cells of the body.

Leukocyte changes

Its main components are neutrophil stab and segmented cells. The first characterize the number of immature forms of leukocytes in the studied blood, the second - mature full cells. The decryption of these components of the leucoformula is given in the table.

Eosinophilia and basophilia

The increase in the number of eosinophilic leukocytes, which in the WBC analysis are referred to as EOS, is when the resulting figure exceeds 5%. This is possible with:

• Allergic reactions;
• Skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema);
• Worm invasion;
• Autoimmune processes;
• Some infections (scarlet fever);
• Eosinophilic type of leukemia.

Monocytosis

Monocytosis is commonly referred to as a condition in which the number of blood monocytes exceeds the standard. The rate of the indicator is from 2 to 9%. This can talk about:

The decrease in the level of monocytes is practically not found.

Changes in the level of lymphocytes

Lymphocytic cells, like neutrophilic leukocytes, provide immune surveillance in the body. But in contrast to them, lymphocytes are responsible for both cellular and immunoglobulin immunity. Their rate is 18-40%. The decoding of the possible results of the WBC analysis is given in the table.

Video about the functions of various types of leukocytes, their blood levels:

A WBC blood test is an excellent alternative to the classic study of its leukocyte composition. The main thing is to know the subtleties of the correct interpretation of the results obtained.

All materials on the site are verified by practicing hematologists and hematologists, but are not a prescription for treatment. If necessary, consult your doctor for examination!

Leukocytes are necessary for the formation of the body's immune defense during the invasion of pathogens. Abbreviation wbc as white blood cell  - white blood cells. The WBC study in the blood test is one of the most important diagnostic indicators of human health.

In a healthy organism, five types of leukocytes inhabit the peripheral blood. Three species are referred to as granulocytes, that is, cells in whose protoplasm granules or grains are visually detected. According to the color of the colored granules and their size, the granular cells are divided into basophils, neutrophils and eosinophils. Two types of cells of visible grains do not have, for which they received the name of agranulocytes. These include lymphocytes and monocytes.

Purpose of the analysis

The purpose of the WBC analysis is to determine the number of leukocytes in the blood. The study shows the increase in WBC in the case of penetration of infections in the body, with inflammatory processes of various etiologies, cancers, traumatic tissue destruction, systemic pathologies  blood, the action of steroid hormones and adrenaline.

A blood test shows a drop in WBC in case of bone marrow tissue damage and some leukemia.

Norm of indicators

The unit of measurement of the content of leukocytes is considered to be the number of cells per unit volume of blood. The standards for the content of leukocytes in the blood for different age groups  differ, as can be seen from the table.

WBC Table of Contents:

Leukocytes are cells of the immune system that protect the body against viruses, bacteria and cancer. The change in their number in the body may indicate a serious pathology, for example, leukemia. An ordinary blood test helps to reveal their deviation from the norm.

WBC: what is it?

WBC in the blood test means nothing more than the absolute number of leukocytes. For convenience of interpretation, they are counted under a microscope in a smear, and then transferred to a value expressing their number in 1 liter of blood. The WBC rate depends on age and ranges from 4.0 to 8.8 × 109 / l in adults. At the same time, the norm for women is 3.2–10.2 × 109 / l, and for men - 4.3–11.3 × 109 / l. Leukocytes in a child are maximal on the first day after birth, amounting to 9.4-32.2 × 109 / l, and then begin to decline steadily, gradually reaching the indicators of an adult.

What are white blood cells for?

Complete blood count is easier to interpret if you know the function. uniform elements  blood, including leukocytes. In fact, this is a whole family of cells of the immune system that performs the most diverse functions in the body. A more detailed picture of white immune cells can be obtained by carefully studying the blood leukocyte formula:

In women, WBC will be increased before the start of the menstrual cycle, childbirth or pregnancy.

The level of leukocytes decreases with immunodeficiency, some congenital diseases characterized by a decrease in the functional activity of the bone marrow, myelodysplastic syndromes, deficiency of group B vitamins, some autoimmune diseases, AIDS, and radiation sickness.

The WBC blood test, the interpretation of its results, indicates that medicine today is not in place, with the result that methods for establishing an accurate diagnosis are constantly being improved and allow doctors to identify and cure such diseases that have recently led the patient to death or disability. Modern science has got unique ways that require special training from doctors and knowledge of advanced and new methods of diagnosing numerous diseases.

With the help of modern equipment and methods of treatment, virtually any human health problem can now be favorably solved, but only on condition that the patient promptly requests help, while being attentive to his condition. Moreover, to diagnose the disease on early stage  its development does not require the use of expensive survey methods. In this case, you should take a blood test.

Complete blood count is a time-tested way to quickly establish the correct diagnosis, because its results carry the necessary information. A blood test is used to obtain information about indicators that accurately and truthfully tell about the state of a process in the body of a person who has applied to a doctor. A blood test on the WBC provides all the necessary information about the phenomena that occur in the body.

A WBC blood test, deciphering it, can tell a lot about a person’s immune system, about an infection that attacks the body. By deciphering a blood test, the attending physician determines the WBC and its quantity. Translation of the WBC into Russian means obtaining information about the content of white blood cells, or white blood cells.

A blood test on the WBC refers to general analysis  blood. Its main task is to identify the number of leukocytes in the serum. Leukocytes, their level, are the most important indicators of the state of the human body.

It has long been known that leukocytes are blood cells that fight against infection that has entered the body. If the rate of leukocytes is stable, then the immune system  human is able to fight the invasion of viruses. In the case when the norm is violated, it is recommended to properly strengthen the immune system. Leukocytes differ in their functions and types.

They are formed in the human bone marrow and lymph nodes. The main task of leukocytes is to protect human organs from various microbes, foreign cells and viruses. In the process of this protection, leukocytes are involved in immunity reactions, give rise to antibodies, take part in the binding and destruction of harmful agents.

When the WBC in the blood test is elevated, doctors confirm the occurrence of the source of infection, which must be eliminated. With a decrease in the rate of leukocytes, a loss of strength appears and the patient is generally weak. In this case, you need to resort to strengthening the immune system.

Types of WBC: decoding, rate and deviations

There are several types of WBC, among which are:

• lymphocytes;
• basophils;
• monocytes;
• neutrophils;
• eosinophils.

Each of them performs its own special function. All of these types are a formula of human blood, deciphering which, the doctor determines the presence of a particular pathology, prescribes the necessary treatment. The percentage of the norm of some leukocytes may increase or decrease due to fluctuations in the number of other types of leukocytes. It is possible to give an example, if the level of leukocytes is elevated, then in the analysis of blood with a leukocyte formula, it is possible to determine due to which the species increased their content. Having performed a blood test for leukocytes, it is possible to predict even the features of the course of the disease, not to mention the complications.

By decoding the blood test, the WBC rate in the blood test is determined. The indicators of the analysis are directly dependent on the age group of the person, so do not compare the blood parameters of the baby and the adult. Taking a WBC blood test in a child, they note that the rate is much higher than the rate of an adult patient. Especially the rate is high in children aged about six months. Even when leukocyte counts reach almost 75 percent, the possibility of health problems is not excluded.

The WBC norm in the analysis of the blood of a man of middle age is from 19 to 37 percent of the cells that are responsible for immunity. In children only fifteen years old, the indicator is close to the rate of an adult.

Below is information according to which it is possible to determine the rate of leukocytes in the blood test on the WBC, depending on the age of the patient:

1. Age 1 month. The leukocyte rate is 5.5–12.5.
2. Age 1 year. Leukocyte rate is 6.0-12.0.
3. Age 6 years. The rate of leukocytes 5,0-12,0.
4. Age 12 years. Leukocyte rate is 4.5-10.0.
5. Age 15 years. Leukocyte rate is 4.3–9.5.

So, to determine the level of leukocytes and its deviations from the norm, a WBC blood test is taken. The blood test represents the WBC in numbers. For a healthy person, the rate of white blood cell count is 4.0-8.8x10 / 12. In order for the blood test to reflect the current state of human health, it is necessary to prepare for blood donation accordingly. WBC analysis is taken on an empty stomach.

Until the time of the study, all fat and fried foods are excluded from the patient’s diet, certain medications are stopped, several days are recommended to stop taking heavy ones. physical exertion. It should be noted that the results can be influenced by a recent flu or a cold, during which antibiotics were used as the main means of control. During the decryption can reveal all inflammatory processesthat occur in a patient:

• meningitis;
• inflammation of fiber under the skin;
• otitis and bronchitis;
• various inflammations in the peritoneum;
• kidney failure;
• severe internal bleeding;
• different types of neoplasms.

Raising and lowering indicators - what does this mean?

In cases where the decoding indicates the fact of increased norm of leukocytes, we are talking about the phenomenon of leukocytosis. Leukocytosis can signal the occurrence of certain pathological conditions. These include the following pathological processes:

1. Acute infections that are caused by bacteria.
2. Viral infection.
3. Various suppurations and inflammations.
4. Allergy.
5. Injuries and burns.
6. Renal colic.
7. Coma caused by diabetes.
8. Different types of malignant tumors.

When there are health problems, deciphering the analysis under consideration will help the doctor to make the correct initial conclusion, on the basis of which the patient is subsequently sent to a more extended study. Leukocytosis can be both the physiological nature of its appearance and be almost the norm for a healthy person, and pathological, when the cause of a particular disease. There is a list of factors that can contribute to an increase in white blood cell count. Among them are the following points:

1. Increased exercise.
2. Pregnancy.
3. Overheating or overcooling of the body.
4. Strong psychological and emotional shock of a person.

If the rate of leukocytes is lowered, we are talking about a condition such as leukopenia, which can be the main threat to human life. This may indicate the presence in the body of such pathologies as:

1. Radiation sickness.
2. Exacerbation of leukemia.
3. The appearance of tumors in the bone marrow.
4. Various autoimmune diseases.
5. Depression and fasting.
6. Lowering blood pressure.

The WBC indicator carries a sufficient amount of information about the condition of the body of a sick person, but at the same time it cannot help to make a clear diagnosis. Therefore, in the complex therapy is used not only a blood test, but also other effective ways  conducting research. What types of diagnostics and in what period they will be used, determines only the attending physician of the patient.