E-2 CBC Parameters and Associated Indications
E.1 White Blood Cell Parameters and Associated
Indications
Table E-1: White Blood Cell Parameters and Associated Indications
White Blood Cell (Leukocyte) Role
Increase in Disease
State
Decrease in Disease
State
Non-Granulocytic
Lymphocytes B-cells: humoral immu-
nity (antibody synthesis)
T-cells: cellular immunity
• Chronic inflammation
• Acute infection/recov-
ery
• Lymphocytic leukemia
• Hypoadrenocorticism
• Acute/severe disease
• Viral disease
• Endotoxemia
• Hyperadrenocorticism
• Stress-related cortico-
steroid response
Monocytes Immature macrophages
— phagocytosis of
debris/foreign material,
killer-cell activation
Necrotic, malignant, hem-
orrhagic, or immune-
mediated disease
Rare, no known signifi-
cance
Granulocytes
Neutrophils
Left shift: Increased numbers of
immature neutrophils/band cells.
• regenerative: up to 50% bands, neu-
trophilia, absence of myelocytes/
metamyelocytes
• degenerative: > 10% bands,
depressed total neutropenia, pres-
ence of myelocytes/metamyelo-
cytes (poor prognostic indicator)
Right shift: Increased number of
hypermature (hyper-segmented) neu-
trophils, often seen with non-infectious
inflammatory process (e.g. malignancy)
Phagocytize/kill microor-
ganisms, initiate and
modify inflammatory pro-
cess, cytotoxic
• Inflammation
• Neoplasm
•Stress
• Exercise/excitement
• Bacterial infection
• Viral infection
• Drug-induced (bone
marrow depression)
Eosinophils • Parasiticidal
•Cytotoxic
• Phagocytic
• Parasitic infection
• Allergic responses
• Hypoadrenocorticism
•Stress
• Hyperadrenocorticism
• ACTH therapy
Basophils • Initiate inflammation
• Prevent coagulation
• Activate lipoprotein
lipase
• Allergic reactions
• Parasitic infection
• Neoplasia
No known significance
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