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</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>The blood differential test measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell (WBC) that you have in your blood. It also reveals if there are any abnormal or immature cells.</p></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>How the Test is Performed</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>A <a test="test" href="./003423.htm">blood sample</a> is needed.</p><p>A laboratory specialist takes a drop of blood from your sample and smears it onto a glass slide. The smear is stained with a special dye, which helps tell the difference between various types of white blood cells.</p><p>Five types of white blood cells, also called leukocytes, normally appear in the blood:</p><ul><li>Neutrophils</li><li>Lymphocytes (B cells and T cells)</li><li>Monocytes</li><li>Eosinophils</li><li>Basophils</li></ul><p>A special machine counts the number of each type of cell. The test shows if the number of cells are in proper proportion with one another, and if there is more or less of one cell type.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>How to Prepare for the Test</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>No special preparation is necessary.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>How the Test will Feel</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Why the Test is Performed</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>This test is done to diagnose an infection, <a test="test" href="./000560.htm">anemia</a>, or <a test="test" href="./001299.htm">leukemia</a>. It may also be used to monitor one of these conditions or to see if treatment is working.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Normal Results</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p>The different types of white blood cells are given as a percentage of all white cells: </p><ul><li>Neutrophils: 40% to 60%</li><li>Lymphocytes: 20% to 40%</li><li>Monocytes: 2% to 8%</li><li>Eosinophils: 1% to 4%</li><li>Basophils: 0.5% to 1%</li><li>Band (young neutrophil): 0% to 3% </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>What Abnormal Results Mean</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-6" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-6"><p>Any infection or <a test="test" href="./002215.htm">acute</a> stress increases your number of white blood cells. High white blood cell counts may be due to inflammation, an <a test="test" href="./000821.htm">immune response,</a> or blood diseases such as leukemia. Abnormal or immature white blood cells may indicate leukemia or bone marrow invasion by cancer or infection.</p><p>It is important to realize that an abnormal increase in one type of white blood cell can cause a decrease in the percentage of other types of white blood cells.</p><p>An increased percentage of neutrophils may be due to:</p><ul><li>Acute infection</li><li>Inflammation</li><li>Acute stress</li><li><a test="test" href="./000899.htm">Eclampsia</a> (seizures or coma in a pregnant woman)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000422.htm">Gout</a> (type of arthritis due to uric acid buildup in the blood)</li><li>Acute or chronic forms of leukemia</li><li>
Myeloproliferative diseases
</li><li><a test="test" href="./000431.htm">Rheumatoid arthritis</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003940.htm">Rheumatic fever</a> (disease due to an infection with group A streptococcus bacteria)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000371.htm">Thyroiditis</a> (a thyroid disease)</li><li>Trauma </li><li>Cigarette smoking
</li></ul><p>A decreased percentage of neutrophils may be due to:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./000554.htm">Aplastic anemia</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./002324.htm">Chemotherapy</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000080.htm">Influenza</a> (flu)</li><li><a test="test" href="./001918.htm">Radiation therapy</a> or exposure</li><li>Viral infection</li><li>Widespread severe bacterial infection (sepsis)</li></ul><p>An increased percentage of lymphocytes may be due to:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./002312.htm">Chronic</a> bacterial infection</li><li>
Infectious <a test="test" href="./001154.htm">hepatitis</a> (liver swelling and inflammation from bacteria or viruses)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000591.htm">Infectious mononucleosis</a>, or mono (viral infection that causes fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000077.htm">Tuberculosis</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000541.htm">Lymphocytic leukemia</a> (a type of blood cancer)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000583.htm">Multiple myeloma</a> (a type of blood cancer)</li><li>Viral infection (such as <a test="test" href="./001557.htm">mumps</a> or <a test="test" href="./001569.htm">measles</a>) </li></ul><p>A decreased percentage of lymphocytes may be due to:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./002324.htm">Chemotherapy</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000594.htm">HIV/AIDS</a> infection</li><li>Leukemia</li><li><a test="test" href="./001918.htm">Radiation therapy</a> or exposure</li><li><a test="test" href="./000666.htm">Sepsis</a> (severe, inflammatory response to bacteria or other germs)</li><li>Steroid use </li></ul><p>An increased percentage of monocytes may be due to:</p><ul><li>Chronic inflammatory disease</li><li>Leukemia</li><li>Parasitic infection</li><li><a test="test" href="./000077.htm">Tuberculosis</a>, or TB (bacterial infection that involves the lungs)</li><li>Viral infection (for example, infectious <a test="test" href="./000591.htm">mononucleosis</a>, <a test="test" href="./001557.htm">mumps</a>, or <a test="test" href="./001569.htm">measles</a>) </li></ul><p>An increased percentage of eosinophils may be due to:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./000378.htm">Addison disease</a> (adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000005.htm">Allergic reaction</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./001289.htm">Cancer</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000570.htm">Chronic myelogenous leukemia</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./001223.htm">Collagen vascular disease</a></li><li>Hypereosinophilic syndromes</li><li>Parasitic infection </li></ul><p>An increased percentage of basophils may be due to:</p><ul><li>After <a test="test" href="./001290.htm">splenectomy</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000005.htm">Allergic reaction</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000570.htm">Chronic myelogenous leukemia</a> (a type of bone marrow cancer)</li><li><a test="test" href="./001223.htm">Collagen vascular disease</a></li><li>Myeloproliferative diseases (group of bone marrow diseases)</li><li><a test="test" href="./001592.htm">Chickenpox</a></li></ul><p>A decreased percentage of basophils may be due to:</p><ul><li>Acute infection</li><li>Cancer</li><li>Severe injury </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Risks</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-7" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-7"><p>There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another, and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.</p><p>Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:</p><ul><li>Excessive bleeding</li><li>Fainting or feeling lightheaded</li><li>Multiple punctures to locate veins</li><li><a test="test" href="./007213.htm">Hematoma</a> (blood accumulating under the skin)</li><li>Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Alt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Alt"><p>Differential; Diff; White blood cell differential count</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/1442t.jpg" alt="Basophil (close-up)" title="Basophil (close-up)" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/1442.htm">Basophil (close-up)</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/19192t.jpg" alt="Formed elements of blood" title="Formed elements of blood" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/19192.htm">Formed elements of blood</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/15216t.jpg" alt="White blood cell count - series" title="White blood cell count - series" class="side-img"/><a href="../presentations/100151_1.htm">White blood cell count - series</a></li>
</ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>References</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Ref" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Bain BJ. The peripheral blood smear. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. <em>Goldman-Cecil Medicine</em>. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 148.</p><p>Nasr MR, Hutchison RE. Leukocytic disorders. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. <em>Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods</em>. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 34.</p></div></div></section>
<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 2/2/2023</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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