Leucocytes are white blood cells which are involved immune process. They are all produced in the hematopoietic stem cells of the bone marrow. They are found in blood and lymphatic system(other cells counted in the whole blood count test are erythrocytes and platelets with no roles in the immune system as leucocytes). White cells are 1% of the total blood volume in a healthy adult. They are generally classified as granulocytes or agranulocytes according to the structure or myeloid and lymphoid cells according to the cell lineage. These categories can further be divided as neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, l ymphocytes and monocytes according to the functions and physical characteristics.
Interpretation: The high number of leucocytes is often an indicator of a disease. An increased number of leucocyte count is called leucoctyosis. The total number may increase in infectious diseases as well as neoplastic and autoimmune diseases. Low levels (leukopenia) indicate weakened immune system. Leucocytosis is usually healthy or a temporary increase due to a simply treated infection, but it may also be due to a myeloproliferative and lymphoproliferative disorder meaning, some are autoimmune where some are neoplastic. To decide, investigation of each subtypes should be performed for a differential diagnosis
Sample: Arm vein plasma(EDTA)
Working day: Everyday
Result Time: 1 hour
