Leukocytes in the blood: normal indicators in tables by age

November 14, 2018

All tests in 1 day

One type of laboratory diagnosis is a general blood test. It allows you to identify a large number of pathologies, such as malignant tumors, infectious, inflammatory diseases, etc. It can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of patient treatment. After all, a general blood test can tell a lot about the state of the body.

Only specialized doctors can correctly decipher a general blood test. Therefore, without the appropriate medical knowledge, you should not even try to do it yourself. But it will not be superfluous to know by what indicators the blood is analyzed, as well as the norms of the test result. You will find this information in our article.

The role of leukocytes in the blood

White blood cells have an important mission for the human body - they protect it from viral and bacterial attacks, waste and toxins, and other foreign bodies. The leukocyte series consists of several types, each of which plays its own role:

1. Neutrophils - detect bacterial infections and destroy them.
2. Lymphocytes are responsible for the immune system and the so-called immune memory.
3. Monocytes - destroy foreign elements found in the blood.
4. Eosinophils are responsible for human allergic reactions.
5. Basophils - play a supporting role in detecting foreign particles and are important in inflammatory and allergic reactions.

The main tasks of leukocytes include:

1. Penetration into the gastrointestinal tract in order to capture nutrients and transport them into the blood. This is especially important for infants, who receive immune protection from their mother through breast milk.
2. Taking part in building humoral and cellular immunity, i.e. performing a protective function.
3. Dissolution of damaged tissues.

Where are they formed and how long do they live?

The bulk of white cells, namely granulocytes, are produced by red bone marrow from stem cells. From the maternal (stem) cell, a precursor cell is formed, then passes into a leukopoetin-sensitive cell, which, under the influence of a specific hormone, develops along the leukocyte (white) series: myeloblasts - promyelocytes - myelocytes - metamyelocytes (young forms) - rods - segmented. Immature forms are found in the bone marrow, mature forms enter the bloodstream. Granulocytes live for about 10 days.

• Clinical blood analysis: from light microscope to hematological analyzers

The lymph nodes produce lymphocytes and a significant proportion of monocytes. Some agranulocytes from the lymphatic system enter the blood, which transports them to the organs. Lymphocytes live a long time - from several days to several months and years. The lifespan of monocytes ranges from several hours to 2-4 days.

Standard indicators: general information

The normal white blood cell count may vary from person to person. Moreover, the main criterion for difference is the age of the subject. So, in children this figure will be higher than in adults. Due to the fact that the norm is estimated in units per liter of blood, diet, body condition and time of day should also be taken into account. So, in the afternoon, after eating, after any stress, physical or mental, the concentration of the indicator will be increased. Gender has virtually no effect on the number of leukocytes. The amendment needs to be made only for a pregnant woman and a woman after 50 years, when due to hormonal changes the concentration of the indicator changes.

For a healthy person, the leukocyte composition of the blood looks like this:

• 55% – neutrophils: 45-72% – segmented neutrophils, 1-6% – band neutrophils;
• 19-37% – lymphocytes;
• 3-11% – monocytes;
• 0.5-5.0% – eosinophils;
• 0.5-1% – basophils.

In a blood test, these data are taken into account in relation to the content of the total number of immune cells.

On the Internet you can find a variety of white blood cell standards that differ greatly from each other. In reality, everything is much simpler - the range from 4 to 9 * 109 is accepted as the norm, with slight adjustments for gender, pregnancy, and age. Children have their own norms, this is due to the passage of a long period of growth and development from newborns to puberty.

Victoria Druzhikina

Neurologist, Therapist

Hormonal blood test

A laboratory blood test, which is carried out to study the functioning of the endocrine system and identify diseases of the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, genital organs and others.

Due date and how to prepare

A hormonal blood test is taken in the morning on an empty stomach from a vein. 1 day before the test you need to give up smoking, alcohol and physical activity. 7 days before this test, you must stop taking hormonal medications. In women, blood is taken for hormonal analysis on days 5-7 of the cycle, counting from the first day of menstruation.

Metrics collected

Thyroid hormones:

• T3 (triiodothyronine);
• T4 (thyroxine);
• Antibodies to thyroglobulin (AT-TG).

Sex hormones:

• Testosterone (male sex hormone);
• Estrogens (female sex hormones).

Pituitary hormones:

• TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone);
• FSH (follicle stimulating hormone);
• LH (luteinizing hormone);
• Prolactin;
• ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone).

Adrenal hormones:

• DEA-s (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate);
• Aldosterone;
• Cortisol.

When planning pregnancy:

• FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)
  - responsible for the growth of the egg;
• LH (luteinizing hormone)
  - ensures completion of egg maturation;
• Prolactin
  - stimulates milk production after childbirth;
• Estradiol
  - affects all female genital organs;
• Progesterone (pregnancy signaling hormone)
  - produced after the egg matures and is important for the proper course of pregnancy;
• DEA-sulfate (DEA-s or DEAS)
  .

Decoding the results: norm and deviation

The normal values ​​of the blood parameters studied in each laboratory are different and depend on the gender, age and condition of the patient. Only a doctor can make a correct interpretation of the blood test results and make a diagnosis, taking into account all aspects of the patient’s health. Below are frequently examined blood parameters, their normal values, and what a deviation from the norm may indicate in the general case, and not in the specific case. To obtain an individual interpretation and diagnosis, you should consult a doctor.

Thyroid hormones

Thyroid hormone levels:

• T3 (triiodothyronine)
  : 2.6 - 5.7 pmol/l;
• T4 (thyroxine)
  : 0.7-1.48 ng/dl;
• Antibodies to thyroglobulin (AT-TG)
  : 0-4.11 U/ml.

Abnormalities in thyroid hormones may indicate:

• thyroid diseases;
• autoimmune diseases.

Sex hormones

Normal sex hormones:

• Testosterone (male sex hormone)
  : 4.94 - 32.01 nmol/l (men), 0.38 - 1.97 nmol/l (women);
• Estrogens (female sex hormones): progesterone
  : 1st phase of the menstrual cycle - 1.0 - 2.2 nM/l; 2nd phase of the menstrual cycle - 23.0 - 30.0 nM/l; for postmenopause - 1.0 - 1.8 nM/l;
• estradiol
  : 1st phase of the menstrual cycle - 198 - 284 pM/l: 2nd phase of the menstrual cycle - 439 - 570 pM/l; for postmenopause - 51 - 133 pM/l.

Deviations from the norm of sex hormones may indicate:

• diseases of the genital organs;
• adrenal neoplasms;
• cirrhosis of the liver.

Pituitary hormones

Norm of pituitary hormones:

• TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)
  : 0.4-4.0 mU/l;
• FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)
  : 1.37 - 13.58 mU/ml (men), 0.57 - 8.77 mU/ml (women);
• LH (luteinizing hormone)
  : 1.26 - 10.05 mU/ml (men), 0.61 to 56.6 mU/ml (women);
• Prolactin
  : 2.58 - 18.12 ng/ml (men), 1.2 - 29.93 ng/ml (women);
• ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
  : 9-52 pg/ml.

Deviations from the norm of pituitary hormones may indicate:

• pituitary diseases;
• dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
• stress;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• other conditions.

Adrenal hormones

Normal levels of adrenal hormones:

• DEA-s (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate)
  : 3591-11907 nmol/l (men), 810-8991 nmol/l (women);
• Aldosterone
  : 35 - 350 pg/ml;
• Cortisol
  : 3.7-19.4 mcg/dl.

Abnormalities in adrenal hormones may indicate:

• adrenal gland diseases;
• stress;
• hunger;
• other conditions.

Hormones when planning pregnancy

Normal hormone levels when planning pregnancy:

• FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone)
  : 0.57 – 8.77 mU/ml;
• LH (luteinizing hormone)
  : 1 - 96.0 mIU/ml;
• Prolactin
  : 64 - 395 mIU/l;
• Estradiol
  : 57 - 426 ng/l;
• Progesterone (pregnancy signaling hormone)
  : 0.2 to 1.5 ng/ml;
• DEA-sulfate (DEA-s or DEAS)
  : 810-8991 nmol/l (women).

Deviations from normal hormones when planning pregnancy may indicate:

• pregnancy;
• diseases of the genital organs;
• other diseases.

When to take it

You need to take a hormonal blood test:

• when prescribed by a doctor;
• when planning pregnancy;
• to control the course of pregnancy;
• if you suspect hormonal disorders;
• with unreasonable weight gain;
• with an enlarged thyroid gland.

Norm indicators in the table by age for women

The range of standards is indicated in reference books and regulations used by doctors.

For a woman, the normal concentration of white blood cells is 4.0 - 9.0 * 109/l. In this case, the age table will look like this:

Table of normal levels of leukocytes in the blood of women.

The leukocyte norm in women can vary depending on the menstrual phase and hormonal levels. The norm of leukocytes in women after 50 years is somewhat different. This is due to hormonal fluctuations.

Thus, during menopause, the concentration of the indicator increases, replacing the production of certain hormones. After menopause, on the contrary, there is a decline in the activity of a number of hormones and cells, which include white blood cells. In digital terms it will look like this:

• 45-55 years – norm 3.3 – 8.8 units. by 109 cells per liter;
• 55-65 years – norm 3.1 – 7.58 *109/l.

How to count

To count leukocytes, an optical device is used - the Goryaev camera

White cell (WBC) levels are determined during a clinical blood test. Leukocyte counting is carried out using automatic counters or in a Goryaev chamber, an optical device named after its developer, a professor at Kazan University. This device is highly accurate. It consists of thick glass with a rectangular recess (the chamber itself), where a microscopic mesh is applied, and a thin cover glass.

The calculation is as follows:

1. Acetic acid (3-5%) is tinted with methylene blue and poured into a test tube. Blood is drawn into a capillary pipette and carefully added to the prepared reagent, after which it is mixed thoroughly.
2. The coverslip and chamber are wiped dry with gauze. The coverslip is rubbed against the chamber to create colored rings, fill the chamber with blood and wait for a minute until cell movement stops. Count the number of leukocytes in one hundred large squares. Calculated using the formula X = (a x 250 x 20): 100, where “a” is the number of leukocytes in 100 squares of the chamber, “x” is the number of leukocytes in one μl of blood. The result obtained from the formula is multiplied by 50.

Normal for pregnant women

Pregnant women experience changes according to many studies. During the period of bearing a child, the concentration of leukocyte cells up to 12-15*109/l is considered the norm. By trimester it will look like this:

High values ​​are due to increased protective functions of the body, thickening of the blood during pregnancy, and a decrease in the level of lymphocytes. Also during pregnancy you need to know your TSH level.

Also, an increased level of white blood cells is necessary to stimulate uterine contractions.

It is worth noting that each private laboratory has its own standards, slightly different from those prescribed in the document. This is due to the equipment used. Therefore, when donating blood privately, you should pay attention to the standards indicated on the form.

Normal for men

The leukocyte count in men is subject to less fluctuations than in women. The norm for men by age is presented in the table:

Normal in children

Children tend to have higher white blood cell counts. The norm for different ages is presented in the table:

The table shows that the norm of leukocyte content in newborn children is very different, for example, from the norm in children 5 years old.

Elevated leukocytes in the blood: causes and treatment

The condition in which white blood cells are elevated is called leukocytosis. It can occur in anyone. Short-term leukocytosis should not cause concern, because it may be associated with the influence of external factors. Thus, a newborn may react with an increased level of leukocytes to new complementary foods. For a man or woman, the norm is a slight increase in the concentration of the indicator as a result of the following situations:

• emotional tension and stress (treated by a psychologist);
• smoking (all the consequences of smoking are described here);
• consumption of certain foods;
• excessive physical activity;
• long stay in the sun or in the bath;
• change of time zones.

To eliminate errors in the analysis, it must be taken in the morning on an empty stomach in a calm state. If, when following all the canons of taking the test, the result still turns out to be above the norm, then we can talk about leukocytosis associated with the presence of some kind of disease.

The reasons why leukocyte cells are elevated may be:

1. Any infectious processes.
2. Autoimmune pathologies.
3. Chronic inflammatory processes.
4. Allergies (learn effective allergy remedies from this article).
5. Viral infection of the body.
6. Severe pain syndrome.
7. Oncological processes (examination and therapy are prescribed by an oncologist).
8. Burns and frostbite.
9. Parasitic contamination of the body.

Causes of increased leukocytes in the blood of women

Women are more likely to have inconsistent test results than men. In addition to the above, the reasons for this may be:

• emotional and mental state;
• changes in climate and weather conditions;
• phase of the menstrual cycle (read what to do with menstrual pain here);
• medications taken;
• inflammatory processes associated with the gynecological area (therapy is prescribed by a gynecologist).

A number of processes occurring in the body of a pregnant woman determine the reasons for the increase in leukocytes in this category of people. In addition to the fact that white blood cells during pregnancy can be elevated due to physiological factors, experts separately identify the following sources:

Doctor's advice

To obtain reliable results, it is important to take a correct blood test. In emergency cases, you can do this after eating; in a planned manner, it is better to go to the treatment room on an empty stomach. It is advisable not to smoke for 2 hours before donating blood. A prerequisite is that if the test is prescribed not to assess the condition during an illness (cold, acute respiratory viral infection, sore throat, etc.), but during a medical examination, then you need to donate blood no less than 2 weeks after recovery in the case of a recent illness. If you perform a blood test a few days after illness, you may find elevated white blood cells that have not yet returned to normal due to the immune response. on the pathogen. Such results will require a second blood donation. Therefore, it is better to wait until 2 weeks have passed and then get examined.

Victoria Druzhikina Neurologist, Therapist

• allergic and inflammatory processes (treated by an allergist) associated with decreased immunity;
• taking medications to maintain pregnancy;
• worsening of chronic pathologies;
• pain in the lumbar region;
• anxiety associated with worries about the child’s development;
• hormonal imbalance (corrected by an endocrinologist), leading to blood thickening.

If a pregnant woman has an increased concentration of leukocyte cells, she will definitely be scheduled for a repeat examination to exclude pathology.

Why leukocytes may be elevated in men: reasons

In men, white blood cells can also be elevated for physiological and pathological reasons. In the first case, there is nothing to worry about: you just need to make sure that the test is taken in compliance with all the standards for passing it. Also, it is necessary to exclude the presence of a man in conditions with high air humidity and temperature immediately before the test. Pathological factors include any deviations in the functioning of the body associated with the occurrence of inflammatory, infectious or bacterial processes. This is due to the fact that it is the man’s immune system that is the first to respond to changes in the steadfastness of the internal environment of his body.

Elevated leukocytes in a child’s blood – what does this mean?

For a child, especially a small one, a condition such as constant mood swings, crying, anxiety, and fear is typical. Also, many parents misinterpret the conditions under which the child is kept. So, a comfortable air temperature for him should be in the range of 18-23 degrees. Adults are used to warmer temperatures. The same applies to baths: often a child is bathed in water that is too hot for him, despite the fact that it is comfortable for an adult. It is overheating and an unstable emotional state that are often the reason why a child’s leukocytes are elevated. Also, the reason for the discrepancy between the indicator and the norm in a child can be vaccination. If the concentration of leukocyte cells is increased significantly even after repeated analysis, then we should talk about pathological phenomena that require research and treatment.

Reasons for the downgrade

A low level of leukocytes in the blood is no less dangerous than an increase in them. A low level of white blood cells in the blood primarily indicates a severe suppression of the immune system. This condition is called leukopenia and can be provoked by third-party factors. Temporary reductions in standards may result from:

1. Taking painkillers.
2. Recent illness.
3. Recent vaccination.
4. Painful menstruation.

Pathological reasons for the decrease can be varied, among them are:

1. Bone marrow dysfunction.
2. Avitaminosis.
3. Anemia.
4. Long-term course of an infectious disease.
5. Diets.
6. Stress.
7. Low pressure.
8. Leukemia.
9. Radiation sickness.
10. Autoimmune diseases.
11. Congenital pathologies.

A decrease in leukocytes in the blood seriously threatens the patient’s health. The lower the level, the more dangerous the condition. An absolute decrease in leukocytes is observed in blood cancer and after chemical therapy. In this case, the patient can be given the missing blood cells from a healthy donor.

Low leukocytes: causes, treatment

If leukocytes are elevated, this is not always bad. Thus, the body reports some kind of failure and activates protective resources to combat it. A low level of leukocyte cells (leukopenia) is of greater concern. If white blood cells are low, this means that the body cannot fight pathogenic elements. Those. We are talking about the presence of some kind of disease. There are three main factors known for which leukocyte bodies are not produced in the required quantities:

• Lack of necessary substances to build new cells.
• The production of white blood cells with their simultaneous death when fighting foci of infections.
• Imbalance of bone marrow functions.

Leukopenia can be found in both men and women.

The main sign of a prolonged deviation from standard values ​​is an infectious disease, which is manifested by fever and chills and is a consequence of intoxication that is not restrained by leukocytes.

The main factor in combating a low level of leukocyte cells is to prevent the development of infectious diseases, which consists of:

• a well-chosen diet;
• wearing a respiratory mask;
• excluding all contacts with already sick people;
• See a doctor at the slightest increase in temperature;
• treatment with folk remedies.

In severe cases of the disease, drug therapy is carried out. Often the patient is hospitalized to restore immunity.

Red blood cells - erythrocytes

Red blood cells perform one of the important functions of blood. A drop of blood contains millions of red blood cells, which constantly circulate through the blood vessels, delivering oxygen to the organs and removing carbon dioxide formed during cellular respiration.

Red blood cells are called red blood cells because they contain the protein hemoglobin, which is bright red in color. It is hemoglobin that carries oxygen and carbon dioxide. As blood passes through the lungs, oxygen molecules attach to hemoglobin, which delivers it to every cell in our body. Freed from oxygen, hemoglobin attaches carbon dioxide molecules to itself. In the lungs, carbon dioxide is released and removed from the body through breathing.

The average lifespan of a red blood cell is 120 days. The bone marrow constantly produces blood cells, replenishing their natural loss.

Treatment of leukocytosis

Leukocytosis is usually detected only by blood tests. A person does not feel any obvious symptoms indicating a change in the blood. Thus, he may complain of a number of ailments, which are often not associated in any way with a deviation from standard values ​​in the concentration of white blood cells:

• general malaise and fatigue;
• loss of appetite, dizziness (other possible causes of dizziness in women are described here), excessive sweating;
• joint and muscle pain;
• sleep disorder (treated by a somnologist), weakened vision (therapy carried out by an ophthalmologist).

In order to reduce the value of an indicator, the increase of which is associated with physiological reasons, it is recommended:

• avoid hypothermia and overheating;
• Healthy food;
• observe a rest regime;
• be less nervous.

Those. therapy is associated with the elimination of factors causing an increase in the indicator.

If a diagnosis of “leukocytosis” is established, self-medication should not be done under any circumstances. The doctor himself, based on repeated tests and additional examinations, will determine the etymology of the growth of leukocyte cells and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

This article has been verified by a current qualified physician, Victoria Druzhikina, and can be considered a reliable source of information for site users.

Bibliography

1.https://medline.ru/public/art/tom18/art6.html 2. Uncle G.I. et al. Universal reference book for a practicing physician (Section “General blood test”) // Voronezh: Scientific book. - 2021. - 512 p. 3. Kishkun A. A. Clinical laboratory diagnostics. Textbook (Chapter 2. Hematological studies) // M.: GEOTAR-Media. — 2015. — 976 p.

4. Standards for indicators of the composition of blood cells and other indicators are reflected in the ORDER of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated 09/14/2001 364 (as amended on 06/06/2008), Appendix 3 “NORMS FOR THE COMPOSITION AND BIOCHEMICAL INDICATORS OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD”
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