WBC Differential: The Test. How is it used? The white blood cell differential is often used as part of a complete blood count (CBC) as a general health check.
It may be used to help diagnose the cause of a high or low white blood cell (WBC) count, as determined with a CBC. It may also be used to help diagnose and/or monitor other diseases and conditions that affect one or more different types of WBCs. The five types include: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils. For more details on these, see the "What is being tested?" section.)The differential totals the number of each type and determines if the cells are present in normal proportion to one another, if one cell type is increased or decreased, or if immature cells are present. This information is useful in helping to diagnose the specific cause of an illness, such as: Some diseases trigger a response by the immune system that causes an increase in certain types of WBCs. A differential may give clues to the specific cause of that immune response.
How the complete blood count (CBC) test is used. The complete blood count (CBC). White Blood Cell Differential. Profile/Testing Information. A manual differential will not be performed on specimens with a WBC ≤0.5 unless the ordering physician clearly indicates that he/she desires a manual differential on a specimen with extremely low. Or an actual manual differential count to ensure accuracy of the reported results. A complete blood count (CBC) gives important information about the kinds and Immature neutrophils, called band neutrophils, are also part of.
For example, it may help determine whether an infection is caused by bacteria or by viruses. Other conditions affect the production of certain WBCs by the bone marrow or their survival in the circulation, resulting in either an increase or decrease in their number. A differential informs the healthcare provider as to which type of WBC is low or high.
- A WBC differential typically includes the following. The white blood cell differential is often used as part of a complete blood count (CBC). What does the test result mean?
- Blood differential test. White blood cell differential count. Images. Basophil. CBC blood test; Chemotherapy; Chronic.
- A complete blood count (CBC). White blood cell types (WBC differential). blood smear test to be done at the same time as a CBC but it is not part of the regular CBC test. In this test, a drop of blood is.
- Complete Blood Count with Differential Does this test have other names? CBC w/ diff. The average size of your red blood cells. This test is known as mean corpuscular volume.
An abnormal differential result may be followed by other tests such as a blood smear, bone marrow biopsy, chromosome analysis, or immunophenotyping (e. These tests can reveal the presence of abnormal and/or immature populations of WBCs.^ Back to top. When is it ordered? The differential is often performed as part of the complete blood count (CBC), which may be ordered at the time of a routine health exam.
A differential may be included as part of the CBC when someone has general signs and symptoms of an infection and/or inflammation, such as: Fever, chills. Body aches, pain. Headache. A variety of other signs and symptoms, depending on the site of suspected infection or inflammation. Testing may be performed when there are signs and symptoms that the healthcare provider thinks may be related to a blood and/or bone marrow disorder, autoimmune disease or other immune disorder. If a differential is not done at the same time as a CBC, it may be ordered when results from the CBC are not within the reference ranges.^ Back to top. What does the test result mean?
The results indicate the number and/or the percentage of each type of white blood cell that is present in a person's sample of blood. Results of a differential are usually reported as absolute values of the five types of WBCs and/or may be reported as a percent of the total number of WBCs.
Absolute values are calculated by multiplying the total number of WBCs by the percentage of each type of white cell. This information can aid in diagnosing illness and monitoring therapy. Neutrophils typically make up the highest number of WBC, followed by lymphocytes, then monocytes, eosinophils and basophils. Care must be taken when interpreting the results of a differential. A healthcare provider will consider an individual's signs and symptoms and medical history as well as the degree to which the cells are increased or decreased. A number of factors can cause a transient rise or drop in the number of any one type of cell.
A persistent increase or decrease will usually prompt further testing to determine the cause. The following table gives some examples as to what the results of a differential may indicate: Possible Causes of High and Low WBC Differential Results. Type of WBCAbbreviations. Examples of causes of a high count. Examples of causes of a low count.
Neutrophils (Absolute neutrophil count, percent neutrophils)Neu, Polys, PMNs, ANC, % Neu. Known as neutrophilia. Known as neutropenia. Myelodysplastic syndrome. Severe, overwhelming infection (e.
Reaction to drugs (e. Autoimmune disorder. Chemotherapy. Cancer that spreads to the bone marrow. Aplastic anemia. Lymphocytes (Absolute lymphocyte count, percent lymphocytes. Lymphs, lym, ly, ALC, % lymphs. Known as lymphocytosis. Known as lymphopenia or lymphocytopenia.
Autoimmune disorders (e. Infections (e. g., HIV, TB, hepatitis, influenza)Bone marrow damage (e. Immune deficiency. Monocytes (Absolute monocyte count, percent monocytes)Monos, AMC, % monos.
Known as monocytosis. Chronic infections (e. Infection within the heart (bacterial endocarditis)Collagen vascular diseases (e. Inflammatory bowel disease. Monocytic leukemia.
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. Known as monocytopenia. Usually, one low count is not medically significant. Repeated low counts can indicate: Bone marrow damage or failure. Hairy- cell leukemia. Eosinophils (Absolute eosinophil count, percent eosinophils)Eos, AEC, % eos.
Known as eosinophilia. Asthma, allergies such as hay fever. Drug reactions. Inflammation of the skin (e. Parasitic infections.
Inflammatory disorders (e. Certain malignancies/cancers. Hypereosinophilic myeloid neoplasms. Known as eosinopenia. This is often difficult to determine because numbers are normally low in the blood. One or an occasional low number is usually not medically significant. Basophils (Absolute basophil count, percent basophils)Baso, ABC, % baso.
Known as basophilia. Rare allergic reactions (e. Inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis)Some leukemias (e. Known as basopenia. As with eosinophils, numbers are normally low in the blood; usually not medically significant. In certain cases, immature and/or abnormal forms of the cells may be present in the blood and may be detected with a differential.
Immature forms include metamyelocytes, myelocytes, promyelocytes, and/or blasts. Further work- up (e. Back to top. Is there anything else I should know? Long- term use of steroids or long- term exposure to toxic chemicals (such as lye or insecticides) can increase the risk of an abnormal differential.^ Back to top.