White blood cells

A white blood count measures the number of white blood cells (WBCs) in your blood. White blood cells, also called leukocytes, are part of your immune system. They are a type of blood cell made in your bone marrow and found in your blood and lymph tissue (part of your immune system). If you are injured or get sick, the white blood cells will travel through your bloodstream and tissues to where they are needed.

A white blood count is most often used to help diagnose or monitor disorders related to having a high white blood cell count or low white blood cell count.

Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine

Normal range

38 published ranges, each from a named source
Normal
4–11 ×10⁹/L
Normal
0–5 cells/µL
Female
3.4–9.6 ×10⁹/L
Male
3.4–9.6 ×10⁹/L
Ranges from American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges), Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog), Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog).

All source ranges (38)

SourceSexAgeRange
American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges) All all ages 4–11 ×10⁹/L
American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges) All all ages 0–5 cells/µL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female all ages 3.4–9.6 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female all ages 3.4–9.6 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female ≤ 14 d 8.2–14.6 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female ≤ 14 d 8.2–14.6 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 15 d – 28 d 8.4–14.4 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 15 d – 28 d 8.4–14.4 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 1 mo – 2 mo 7.1–14.7 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 1 mo – 2 mo 7.1–14.7 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 2 mo – 5 mo 6–13.3 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 2 mo – 5 mo 6–13.3 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 6 mo – 2 y 6.5–13 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 6 mo – 2 y 6.5–13 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 2 y – 3 y 4.9–13.2 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 2 y – 3 y 4.9–13.2 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 3 y – 5 y 4.4–12.9 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 3 y – 5 y 4.4–12.9 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 6 y – 17 y 3.8–10.4 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 6 y – 17 y 3.8–10.4 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male all ages 3.4–9.6 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male all ages 3.4–9.6 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male ≤ 14 d 8–15.4 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male ≤ 14 d 8–15.4 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 15 d – 28 d 7.8–15.9 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 15 d – 28 d 7.8–15.9 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 1 mo – 2 mo 8.1–15 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 1 mo – 2 mo 8.1–15 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 2 mo – 5 mo 6.5–13.3 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 2 mo – 5 mo 6.5–13.3 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 6 mo – 2 y 6–13.5 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 6 mo – 2 y 6–13.5 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 2 y – 3 y 5.1–13.4 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 2 y – 3 y 5.1–13.4 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 3 y – 5 y 4.4–12.9 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 3 y – 5 y 4.4–12.9 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 6 y – 17 y 3.8–10.4 ×10⁹/L
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 6 y – 17 y 3.8–10.4 ×10⁹/L

What an abnormal result can be associated with

A high result
Increased total leukocyte count
A low result
Decreased total leukocyte count
Associations from LOINC2HPO (Human Phenotype Ontology). This is reference information, not a diagnosis: only a clinician can interpret your result in context.
details
Sample
Whole blood · LOINC
Part of
CBC panel
Code
LOINC 6690-2 · ×10⁹/L
Also known as
Leukocytes, Leukocyte, Leuc, Leuk, Lkcs
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