A high white blood cell count is a rise in the number of cells in the blood that fight infections.
What's thought of as high in a white blood cell count varies from one lab to another. This is because labs set their own reference ranges based on the people they serve. Most often, a count of more than 11,000 white blood cells in a microliter of blood is thought to be high for adults.
A test a healthcare professional orders to diagnose a condition can show a high white blood cell count. A high white blood cell count rarely is found by chance.
Talk to your healthcare professional about what your results mean. A high white blood cell count plus results from other tests might show the cause of your illness. Or you might need other tests for more information about your condition.
Show References
- White blood cell count (WBC blood test). Testing.com. https://www.testing.com/tests/white-blood-cell-count-wbc. Accessed Nov. 23, 2022.
- McPherson RA, et al., eds. Leukocytic disorders. In: Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Elsevier; 2022. www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 23, 2022.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/high-white-blood-cell-count/basics/causes/sym-20050611)