Educational information only. At Precursor, blood testing is requested and reviewed by a clinician and considered alongside your history and other markers, not as a stand-alone diagnosis. Testing is performed in NATA-accredited laboratories to ISO 15189 standards.

What is the white blood cell count?

The white blood cell count measures the total number of immune cells in your blood. These cells are your body's defence force, and their overall number rises and falls in response to infection, inflammation, stress and other demands on the immune system.

Why it matters

The total white cell count is a broad first look at immune activity. It is most powerful when broken into its different cell types, the differential, because the pattern between them offers clues about whether the body is fighting an infection, dealing with inflammation, or something else.

What your results can mean

Higher than optimal

A raised white cell count often reflects the body responding to infection or inflammation, and can also rise temporarily with stress. The differential helps show which type of cell is driving it.

Lower than optimal

A low white cell count can follow certain infections or medications, and is interpreted in the context of your history and the rest of the count.

Reference ranges in Australia

The white cell count is reported in cells times ten to the ninth per litre (x10⁹/L). As a general guide, a value in the region of 4.0 to 11.0 x10⁹/L is often considered within range, though this varies by laboratory. Read your result against the range on your own report.

Test your blood count with Precursor

The white cell count is most informative with its full differential. At Precursor it is measured as part of Full Advanced Bloods, a single clinician-reviewed blood draw covering your full blood count, heart, metabolic, hormonal, kidney, liver, thyroid and nutrient markers together, giving you and your clinician a broad baseline to understand and track.