How to Interpret Bloodwork & WBC CNT
A white blood cell (WBC) count is part of a compete blood count (CBC) test that your doctor may order as part of a routine medical exam or to monitor a variety of disorders (like anemia) or treatments (like chemotherapy). The CBC test consists of a count for red blood cells (RBC), WBCs (along with identifying the different types of WBCs: neutrophiles, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophiles and basophiles) and platelets, as well as a measurement of the content of hemoglobin (oxygen-carrying protein), hematocrit (the percentage of red blood cells in a given volume of blood) and other blood indices that measure the average size of your RBCs with the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), the average amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin inside a red blood cell with the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and the average concentration of hemoglobin inside a red blood cell with the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Your doctor looks at your CBC results (specifically the WBC, RBC, platelet, hemoglobin, hematocrit and WBC differential) to evaluate your overall health.
Instructions
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Scan your CBC result report for numbers marked by "H" or "L." The laboratory reports a number for each test included in the CBC, along with normal values for each test. Abnormal results are flagged with an "H" for high, or "L" for low. Normal results are not flagged.
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Compare the flagged results against the normal range for that specific test provided by the laboratory. Normal ranges vary from laboratory to laboratory, as well as among individuals, based on age and gender. The normal ranges in your laboratory report are specific for the laboratory methods of testing and your age and gender.
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Discuss abnormal CBC results with your doctor. Many factors and conditions can cause a rise or fall in one or many CBC components levels. Your WBC levels are elevated with infections, cancer, leukemia and decreased with some medications, some autoimmune disorders, severe infections and congenital marrow aplasia (bone marrow doesn't develop normally). Anemia decreases the RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit results, while diarrhea, dehydration and burns may increase them. Platelet count is decreased with bleeding, inherited disorders, leukemia and chemotherapy. Doctors look at other components of the CBC for clues in the direction they need to follow to diagnose the cause of abnormal CBC findings.
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Tips & Warnings
Abnormal results in your CBC warrant additional testing to find the causes for the increase or decrease in CBC components.
