High white blood cell count

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When to see a doctor

By Mayo Clinic staff

A high white blood cell count is usually found when your doctor has ordered tests to help diagnose a condition you're already experiencing. It's rarely an unexpected finding or simply discovered by chance. Talk to your doctor about what these results mean. A high white blood cell count and results from other tests may already indicate the cause of your illness, or your doctor may suggest other tests to further assess your condition.

References
  1. Laboratory reference values. Leukocytes. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2010.
  2. Coates TD. Definition and mechanisms of leukocytosis and neutrophilia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 12, 2010.
  3. Blood studies: Hematology and coagulation. In: Fischbach FT, et al. A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009. http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&NEWS=N&PAGE=booktext&D=books&AN=00140036/7th_Edition/11&XPATH=/OVIDBOOK%5B1%5D/METADATA%5B1%5D/TBY%5B1%5D/EDITORS%5B1%5D. Accessed July 12, 2010.
MY00161 Sept. 18, 2010

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