What is the normal value of white blood cells? The answer turns out to be like this

After people have a blood test, doctors often tell them that their white blood cell count is too high or too low, which makes people wonder what value is normal for white blood cells? In fact, the normal value of white blood cells is also a range, just like red blood cells, because it changes at different stages of the human body.

What is the normal range of white blood cells?

White blood cells are colorless and spherical with a nucleus. They are larger than red blood cells and have a diameter between 7 and 20 μm. After staining with complex dyes, the white blood cells in the blood smear can be divided into two major categories and five types of cells [granular leukocytes (including eosinophils, alkaliphils, neutrophils) and agranular leukocytes (including lymphocytes, monocytes)] according to their morphological differences and the presence or absence of specific granules in the cytoplasm.

The normal blood cell count is 4000-10000/μL (microliter), of which neutrophils account for 0.50-0.70, eosinophils account for 0.005-0.05, alkaliphils account for 0.005-0.01, monocytes account for 0.03-0.08, and lymphocytes account for 0.20-0.40.

The number of white blood cells in the blood varies greatly at different times of the day and under different functional states of the body. When the count exceeds 10,000 per microliter, it is called leukocytosis; when it is less than 4,000 per microliter, it is called leukopenia. When there is inflammation, the number of white blood cells in the blood increases significantly. Each type of white blood cell has a different defensive function.

When talking about changes in white blood cells, the first thing to notice is the change in quantity. The total white blood cell count of a normal person is (4.0~10.0)×10^9/L. In fact, a value of 0.5×10^9/L above or below this value can be considered roughly normal, because it is related to people's individual differences. Adult men and women generally fall within this range, with not much difference between the genders, but children and infants are completely different. The white blood cell count of a newborn baby can reach (15~20)×10^9/L at birth, which can drop to around 15×10^9/L in the following week, and can reach (10~12)×10^9/L within 2 years old. Children under 5 years old are also often higher than the adult level, with an average value of around 8×10^9/L. As they grow older, it gradually approaches the adult level.

1. Unit: pcs/liter (pcs/L)

2. Normal value range: (unit: 10/L)

⑴ Adults: (4.0-10.0)×10^9/L

⑵ For newborns: (15-20)×10^9/L

⑶6 months to 2 years old: (11-12)×10^9/L

⑷4 to 14 years old: 8×10^9/L

⑸Children (5.0-12.0) × 10^9/L

When the white blood cell count is lower than 4×10^9/L, it is called leukopenia, but its critical value is often set at (2.5~4)×10^9/L, which means that when it is lower than 2.5, it is definitely considered abnormal. A significant decrease in the number of white blood cells is also a problem that cannot be ignored. Long-term exposure to radiation, poisoning caused by various physical and chemical factors, chemotherapy and radiotherapy of tumors, hypersplenism, autoimmune diseases, aplastic anemia, hematopoietic dysfunction, etc. can all lead to a decrease in white blood cells, especially neutrophils. Of course, the diagnosis of these diseases still depends on other examination methods to be determined.