In a white blood cell count, what is the total number of cells typically counted?

In a white blood cell count, the typical number of cells counted is 100. This standard practice is based on creating a statistically significant sample that allows for an accurate representation of the entire blood population. When a technician counts 100 white blood cells under a microscope, they can calculate the concentration of white blood cells per microliter of blood, providing valuable diagnostic information about the patient's immune status and potential underlying conditions.

Counting 100 cells strikes a balance between obtaining sufficient data to ensure accuracy while allowing for efficient use of time and resources. This number is representative enough to identify various types of white blood cells, such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils, which can be crucial for diagnosing infections, allergies, and other hematological disorders.

Larger counts, such as 200 or 1,000, could theoretically provide even more detailed information but are not typically necessary for standard clinical practices and may lead to increased workload without significantly enhancing the reliability of results. A count of 50 would be too small to yield a reliable average and is therefore not used in standard practice.