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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffHigh white blood cell count is an increase in disease-fighting cells (leukocytes) circulating in your blood. High white blood cell count is also called leukocytosis.
The threshold for high white blood cell count varies from one medical practice to another. A count of more than 11,000 leukocytes in a microliter of blood in adults is generally considered a high white blood cell count. The threshold for a high white blood cell count in children varies with age and size.
References
- Humphries RL, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment Emergency Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=55756032. Accessed November 2, 2012.
- Cerny J, et al. Why does my patient have leukocytosis? Hematology Oncology Clinics of North America. 2012;26:303.
- McPherson RA, et al. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 22nd ed. New York, N.Y.: Elsevier Saunders; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0974-2..C2009-0-45915-4&isbn=978-1-4377-0974-2&uniqId=379967544-3#4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0974-2..C2009-0-45915-4--TOP. Accessed Nov. 8, 2012.
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