How Do White Blood Cells Protect the Body?

White blood cells play a critical role in our body’s defense system. After all, they’re our first line of defense against infections.

These cells circulate in our bloodstream and tissues to locate any foreign particles in the body. If they identify one, they signal other cells to help defend the body against the attack. Your medical provider can request a complete blood count (CBC) conducted from Mobile Laboratory Services in Maryland to check your WBC count.

In this blog, we’re discussing the importance of white blood cells in our body’s immune system.

What Are White Blood Cells?

White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, are cells that fight infections and other diseases in our body. The stem cells in our bone marrow are responsible for producing white blood cells. Approximately 80 to 90 percent of our white blood cells are stored in the bone marrow, and they can be found in the blood and lymph node tissues.

Despite being critical for our immunity, WBCs account for only 1% of our blood.

Types of White Blood Cells and Their Functions

Different types of white blood cells are responsible for various functions crucial for our body’s security. Some of these cells are an innate part of our immune system. This means they knew how to fight foreign attacks since they were created. Others are a component of our learned immune system. These are called the humoral cells. They learn how to create antibodies after being exposed to pathogens.

Here are the types of WBCs and their functions:

Basophils only account for 1% of white blood cells. They’re known for their role in conditions such as asthma and release histamine when stimulated.
Eosinophils fight bacteria and parasitic infections.
Neutrophils make up the highest WBC population. They’re the first cells that respond to invaders.
Lymphocytes, like B and T cells. Unlike others, they have a special purpose. B cells are responsible for humoral immunity, and T cells are responsible for identifying and killing invaders.
Monocytes are responsible for cleaning up dead cells in the body.

What Happens If You Have High or Low WBC Count?

If your body starts producing more WBCs than it should, it’s called leukocytosis. High levels of WBCs can indicate the following conditions:

Allergic responses
Inflammatory conditions
Infections
Leukemia

Comparatively, if your body produces fewer WBCs, it’s called leukopenia. It can indicate the following conditions:

Autoimmune conditions
B-12 deficiency
Bone marrow disorders
Damage to bone marrow
Leukemia
Lymphoma
Sepsis

Your doctor may suggest a CBC test to check if you have a higher or lower WBC count.

Do you need to get a CBC test? Then try Phlebotomy On Wheels’ services for reliable and high-quality Mobile Blood Draw Services MD.

At Phlebotomy On Wheels, we offer mobile laboratory services in Maryland, including paternity testing, specimen pick-up, pediatric blood draws, urine testing, and more.

Contact our mobile lab services in MD today to schedule an appointment.