Overview

White blood cells are a vital part of your body’s immune system. It is responsible for protecting our body against infections and invading organisms. We have five types of white blood cells:

• neutrophils
• lymphocytes
• monocytes
• eosinophils
• basophils

Each of these blood cells can be affected in different ways if you have a particular condition.

A white blood cell (WBC) count determines the number of white blood cells in the blood, and a WBC differential measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell in the blood. A WBC differential can also finds out immature white blood cells and abnormalities.A WBC differential can also be called a leukocyte differential count.

What does a white blood cell count and differential address?

Your doctor may order a WBC count and differential if they find you have one of conditions, Such as;

• anemia
• infection
• leukemia

Why do I need this count?

White Blood Cell Differential Count Test is generally a part of a complete blood count (CBC) test.

Your doctor may prescribe the test if he suspects that you have a condition that affects your test, or if your body is showing symptoms of low blood oxygen.

A CBC test is generally a part of a routine test. It indicates the condition of your overall health. It may also be performed before a surgery.

Your doctor may order the test to monitor your condition if you’re taking any medications that affect the results or if you have a diagnosed blood condition that may affect your WBC count.

What preparation do we need for the test?

White Blood Cell Differential Count count usually done as part of a complete blood count (CBC).So no preparations are needed before the test. The test can be easily conducted in any lab or blood testing centre. You don't need any special preparations for this test. Your doctor will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.

Are there any risks to the test?

A platelet test is a very safe, common test. All tests carry some risk, however, these may include:

• Infection
• A hematoma
• Feeling faint
• Excessive bleeding

What happens after the blood differential test?

Your doctor will likely to recommend more tests if you have a persistent increase or decrease in the levels of any of white blood cells.

These tests can include a bone marrow biopsy to measure the underlying cause.

Doctor can also order one or more of the following tests to finds out the best options for your treatment and follow-up:

• eosinophil count test
• flow cytometry, which describes if a high white blood cell count is due to by cancers of the blood
• immunophenotyping, which can help to know the best treatment for a condition caused by abnormal blood cell counts
• polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which measures biomarkers in bone marrow or blood cells.