WBC Count And Differential Smear Flashcards
Where are WBC formed and what is the functions
- Formed in the bone marrow by stem cells
- Function is to fight infection and react against foreign bodies or tissues
*presence indicated inflammation / inflammatory process
What does WBC count measure
- Measures the total number of WBC in peripheral venous blood
What are the two components of a WBC count
- Total number of WBC
- Differential count (need to request)
What are the age related changes with WBC
- Newborns and infants have higher WBC than adults
- Elderly patients may not develop an elevated WBC count even with severe infection
- Low WBC count in the setting of fever/sepsis is a poor prognostic indicator
What are the critical values of WBC
<2000
>40000
What is leukocytosis and leukopenia
Osis = increased total WBC count >10,000
Penia = decreased total WBC count <4,000
What are some causes of leukocytosis
- Infection
- Leukemia
- Trauma, stress, exercise
- Dehydration
- Tissue necrosis (RA)
If the WBC count is high what should you do
Look at the differential
1. Neutrophils (bands/segs) = bacterial / pyogenic infection
2. Lymphocytes / monocytes = viral, TB
3. Eosinophils = allergy, parasites, coccidiomycosis (fungal)
What changes will occur in the WBC from infection (leukocytosis)
- There will be a left shift of Bands or segs (PMNs)
What is peripheral demargination due to (leukocytosis)
Steroids / pregnancy
1. Steroids will push WBC off the vessel wall and release them into the circulaon
2. If all the cells on the differential are proportionately elevated its from steroids
What types of cancers cause leukocytosis
Lymphoma / leukemia
1. Rapidly dividing cells, will have very high WBC with high lymphocytes (lymphoma)
2. High wbc with neutrophils, monocytes (leukemia)
What massive stressors cause leukocytosis
- MI
- PE
- Surgery
- Trauma
What are Myeloproliferative disorders
- Acquired condition in which something disrupts the production of blood cells
- The bone marrow makes deformed cells that die in the bone marrow or just after entering the blood stream
What types of cells will you see with myeloliferative disorders
- More immature and defective cells than healthy ones
*reason may see increased cell lines early in disease
*can progress to acute myeloid leukemia
What type of bone marrow failure conditions cause leukopenia
- Radiation
- Marrow infiltrate diseases (myelofibrosis)
- Dietary deficiencies (B12 or folate)
- Autoimmune disease
- Aplastic anemia
What is leukemia reactions
Found in sepsis
1. WBC count is extremely high and reaches levels associated with leukemia >50,000
*Leukostasis is WBC >100K seen in AML
*can resolve quickly as the infection is successfully treated
What does CBC with diff provide
- Provides all CBC components
*RBC, WBC, and platelets PLUS - Differential count
*measures the percentage of each type of leukocyte
*must be specifically requested
What are granulocytes (WBC)
- Cell with granules in cytoplasm
- Relapses enzymes during infection, allergic reaction, asthma
- Neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils
What are Agranulocytes
- Lymphocytes and monocytes
What are the five types of WBC on the differential
- Neutrophils
- Lymphocytes
- Monocytes
- Eosinophils
- Basophils
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If there is persistent increase, reduction, or dramatic decrease below normal range for the differential count what does that mean
Persistent increase = worsening infection
Reduction = resolution of an infection
Dramatic decrease below normal range = marrow failure
What makes up the majority of the total leukocytes
- Neutrophils and lymphocytes (75-90%)
What are neutrophils
- Most common granulocyte
- Multi-lobed (2 to 3)
*referred to as polymorphonuclear leukocytes PMN, segs or polys
*hypersegmented PMNs have 5 to 6 lobes
What is the first WBC to the scene of inflammation or infection
Neutrophils
*exist in the circulation for only 6 hours