White Blood Cell Differential (with Absolute Counts)
This test measures the types and amounts of white blood cells in your blood, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils, along with their absolute counts.
["Understanding your immune cell composition helps identify infections, inflammation, or other health conditions."]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 5435-3
- Short code
- Deprecated CD14 WBC-aCnc
- Synonyms
- Deprecated CD14 WBC-aCnc
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- whole-blood
- Container
- Lavender-top (EDTA)
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 4.5
- Ref high
- 11
- Critical range
- 2 N/A – 30 N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- CPT
- 85004
- SNOMED
- 900000000000003002
- Specimen volume
- 3 mL
- Stability
- Room temperature: 4h, Refrigerated: 24h
- Hemolysis max
- 0
- Lipemia max
- 0
- Icterus max
- 0
- TAT
- 4–24 hours
- Order
- routine
Why This Test Matters
A white blood cell differential helps doctors determine the cause of symptoms like fever, fatigue, or recurring infections. It can reveal whether your immune system is responding to a bacterial, viral, or other type of infection, or if there’s an underlying condition like leukemia or immune deficiency.
Types of White Blood Cells Measured
The test breaks down your white blood cells into five main types: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Each type plays a specific role in fighting infections or responding to inflammation. Absolute counts indicate the number of each type per microliter of blood.
Common Reasons for Testing
Doctors may order this test if you have symptoms like frequent infections, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, or swollen lymph nodes. It’s also used to monitor conditions like cancer, autoimmune diseases, or chronic infections.
What to Expect Before the Test
No special preparation is needed. You’ll have a small needle inserted into your arm for a blood draw, similar to a routine blood test. The process takes about 5 minutes, and you can resume normal activities afterward.
Reference range
Adult: 4.5-11.0 x 10^9/LN/A
No special preparation required. Stay well hydrated.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
Clinical Significance
Short name
WBC Differential
Frequently asked questions
An abnormal differential can signal infections (e.g., high neutrophils for bacterial infections), immune disorders (e.g., low lymphocytes), or blood disorders (e.g., high monocytes in chronic inflammation). It helps guide treatment decisions, such as antibiotics or further testing.
What does a high or low count of a specific white blood cell type mean?
Can diet or medications affect white blood cell counts?
Sources
- 1
- 2Lab Tests OnlineSource
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy