WBC Types

Normal blood consists of three types of cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

There are five types of white blood cells (WBCs), also known as leucocytes:

neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes.

White blood cells function as part of the body's immune system, and they fight off infections and tumors.

Neutrophils

• Neutrophils are normally about 40& to 60% of the total white blood cell count. Neutrophils fight off bacterial infections. During a bacterial infection, the total white blood count may become elevated by increased numbers of neutrophils. Neutrophils may also increase in response to inflammation and stress. Neutrophils only live for about 6 hours in the blood stream but can rapidly rise in response to infection,stress or inflammation.

Basophils and Eosinophils

• Basophils and eosinophils are rarer white blood cell types and each normally comprise only about 1% of the total white blood count. Basophils increase in response to inflammation. Eosinophils may be elevated in asthma, hives, allergic reactions, inflammation, or in response to infections with parasites.

Lymphocytes

• Lymphocytes are divided into two types, B cells and T cells. Each helps fight off viral infections and cancers.

  B cells can produce antibodies. T cells are further divided into helper cells and suppressor cells. Doctors often use the ratio of these T cells and the total T cell counts to assess the function of the immune system in HIV infection.

Monocytes

• Monocytes are elevated by responses to stress and immune system disorders. Monocytes can turn into macrophage cells that ingest and destroy foreign proteins and material in the body, such as from bacteria. Monocytes are commonly elevated in response to mononucleosis infection.