Why is a differential white blood cell count more valuable than a total white blood cells count when trying to pin down the specific source of pathology?

Answer 1

A total white blood count gives a single number - how many white blood cells were present per milliliter of sample. A differential white blood count breaks the number down among the different white blood cell types - neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, basophil, eosinophil. Different white blood cells will respond to different types of pathology - neutrophils are associated with bacterial infections, eosinophils with parasite infestation, monocytes with chronic infections, etc.

Answer 2

A differential WBC count allows the pathologist or physician to narrow down the cause of a particular pathology because different white blood cells are active in different types of immune responses.

For instance, if the eosinophil count was high, the physician would be focusing on auto-immune, allergic or parasitic diseases. In contrast, if the neutrophil count was high with a large percentage of band cells, the physician would be focusing on an acute bacterial infection.

Answer 3

A total white blood count gives a single number - how many white blood cells were present per milliliter of sample. A differential white blood count breaks the number down among the different white blood cell types - neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, basophil, eosinophil. Different white blood cells will respond to different types of pathology - neutrophils are associated with bacterial infections, eosinophils with parasite infestation, monocytes with chronic infections, etc.

Answer 4

Because the types of WBCs counted is more diagnostic of viral or bacterial processes in addition to malfunctioning of the bone marrow in the production of cells.