Extensive Puhti laboratory package (men) is a great choice when you want to gain more thorough information about the well-being of your body. The Puhti laboratory package will help you check how your body is doing and make better choices for your health. Several tests are included, such as cholesterol, blood glucose, important vitamins, ferritin and testosterone.
Leukocytes (B-Leuk) – Reference values and general information about white blood cells
White blood cells fight viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other intruders that threaten the health of the body.
Leukocytes or white blood cells (B-Leuk)
- Leukocytes, or white blood cells, act as anti-inflammatories in the body.
- Leukocytes are an important part of the immune system.
- Their number increases with inflammation.
What are leukocytes?
Leukocytes, or white blood cells, act as anti-inflammatories in the body and are an important part of the immune system. The fB-Leuk test shows the total white blood cell count in the blood. The fB-Leuk value is calculated in connection with the leukocyte differential (B-Diffi) test in a complete blood count.
There are five types of leukocytes:
- neutrophils
- eosinophils
- basophils
- lymphocytes
- monocytes
White blood cells play a crucial role in our health. White blood cells fight viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other intruders that threaten the health of the body. Their number increases with inflammation.
White blood cells are formed in the bone marrow, from where they circulate throughout the body in the bloodstream. Most of the white blood cells are stored in tissues, and only a small portion of them circulate in the blood. Nevertheless, blood tests can provide a good picture of the overall white blood cell situation in the body.
B-Leuk measurement
B-Leuk test shows the total white blood cell count in the blood. Normally, a person’s blood contains between 3.4 and 8.2 billion white blood cells per litre of blood. Both low and high levels of leukocytes in the blood indicate health problems.
Reference values for leukocytes
Reference value for leukocytes (B-Leuk) in adult men and women is between 3.4 and 8.2 xE9/L.
What is the cause of a high white blood cell count?
A high B-Leuk value may be due to various reasons. An increase in the number of white blood cells is called leukocytosis.
Slightly elevated values are quite common. The values can be elevated due to pregnancy, physical or mental exertion or stress, eating, smoking, or cortisone medication, for example, .
The number of leukocytes increases in many diseases, especially in bacterial infections. Other common causes of elevated leukocyte values include the common cold, influenza and other viral diseases, as well as allergies.
A significant increase in the number of white blood cells occurs in several types of leukemia.
What is the cause of a low white blood cell count?
A decrease in the number of white blood cells is called leukopenia. A reduced white blood cell count weakens the body’s defence system.
The number of white blood cells can fall for two reasons: high consumption of white blood cells or disturbed production of cells in the bone marrow. Mild leukopenia is seen, for example, in connection with certain viral diseases and recovers when the disease has run its course. The cause of significant leukopenia should always be investigated.
What causes leukopenia?
Leukopenia, or a decrease in the number of white blood cells, can be caused by:
- various viral diseases
- certain infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis
- certain autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
- certain conditions and diseases affecting blood cells or bone marrow, such as aplastic anaemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis, and hypersplenism
- various cancers and cancer treatments
- congenital disorders, such as severe congenital neutropenia
Rare diseases of the bone marrow and certain drugs can result in a very low white blood cell count.
Leukopenia usually does not cause any noticeable symptoms. Leukopenia is treated according to its cause.
Extensive Puhti laboratory package (women) is a great choice when you want to gain more thorough information about the well-being of your body. The laboratory package will help you check how your body is doing and make better choices for your health. Several tests are included, such as cholesterol, blood glucose, vitamins D and B12, ferritin, and sodium.
99,00 €
Puhti laboratory package includes many different tests that give you a wide range of information on how your body is doing. It includes blood count, cholesterol, blood glucose, vitamin D, ferritin, inflammatory status and tests of the functioning of the thyroid gland, liver and kidneys.
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Basic blood count (B -PVK+T)
Basic blood count is a study comprising several component examinations. It measures the blood hemoglobin concentration and calculates blood cells: white blood cells (leukocytes), red blood cells (erythrocytes), and platelets (thrombocytes). Additionally, indices describing red blood cells are calculated.
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B-Eryt, erythrocytes or red blood cell count
The number of red blood cells (B-Eryt) is examined in connection with a blood count. In cases of anemia, the number of red blood cells is low.
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Hematocrit (B-Hkr), volume percentage of red blood cells in blood
Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in the blood. In anemia, the red blood cell count is reduced.
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Monocytes are white blood cells (B-Monos, L-Monos%)
White blood cells are an important part of the human immune system. They protect the body from attacks of bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Bone marrow produces five different types of white blood cells, one of which is the monocyte.
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Lymphocytes (B-Ly, L-Ly%)
The leukocyte differential (B-Diffi) test should be done when the number of leukocytes in the blood is elevated.
Article updated:
6 May 2024