Your healthcare provider may also send samples of your blood, urine, sputum, and cerebral spinal fluid CSF to the lab to check for bacteria and viruses. Imaging tests. If your healthcare provider thinks you may have a type of blood cancer, you may need a biopsy to help figure out the cause of your abnormal WBC values. Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, the method used for the test, and other things.
Your test results may not mean you have a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you. Test results that are higher than normal may mean that you have an infection or illness that your body is fighting.
Test results that are lower than normal may mean that your immune system isn't working as well as it should. This means that even a small infection could cause serious health problems. The test is done with a blood sample. A needle is used to draw blood from a vein in your arm or hand. Infants usually have one of their heels stuck with a needle to collect a few drops of blood.
Having a blood test with a needle carries some risks. These include bleeding, infection, bruising, and feeling lightheaded. Abnormally low white blood cell levels could lead to higher risk of infection of any kind. A low white cell count itself does not directly produce any symptoms, but a patient who is immunocompromised as the result of significant leukopenia and then develops an infection may experience symptoms associated with that infection, such as fever, localised pain, fatigue, muscle ache, loss of appetite and general malaise.
The main risk of an abnormally low white blood cell count is how vulnerable it may make a person to infection. Without an adequate white blood cell response available to fight infection, the body is at greater risk that any infection including those usually regarded as minor may cause serious illness or death. Risk of infection is an even greater concern for a patient whose immunity is already compromised for some reason. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures.
Basic examination of blood and bone marrow. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; chap The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites.
Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Information developed by A. Please discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have. Medical Tests. To identify the exact cause of a high or low WBC count, your doctor will take several factors into consideration, such as your list of current medications, symptoms, and medical history.
Leukopenia is the medical term used to describe a low WBC count. A low number can be triggered by:. Leukocytosis is the medical term used to describe a high WBC count. This can be triggered by:. After diagnosing the cause of a high or low WBC count and recommending a treatment plan, your doctor will periodically recheck your WBCs. If your WBC count remains high or low, this can indicate that your condition has worsened.
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