Hello!
There are several different kinds of white cells. So, you would need to know which white cells are elevated to narrow it down.
White cells
- Total white blood cells - All the white cell types are given as a percentage and as an absolute number per litre.
A complete blood count with differential will also include:
- Neutrophil granulocytes - May indicate bacterial infection. May also be raised in acute viral infections.
- Lymphocytes - Higher with some viral infections such as glandular fever and. Also raised in lymphocytic leukaemia CLL.
- Monocytes - May be raised in bacterial infection
- Eosinophil granulocytes - Increased in parasitic infections.
- Basophil granulocytes
A manual count will also give information about other cells that are not normally present in peripheral blood, but may be released in certain disease processes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_blood_count#White_cells
You can certainly call the doctors office and ask which type of white cells were too plentiful. You can then also ask for a more in depth explanation as to why they think it is nothing to worry about. They may be right, but you have the right to know.
Hope that helps,
Kerry
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Kerry, RN
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