The RBC's in the background appear normal. The important finding here is the presence of many PMN's. An elevated WBC count with mainly neutrophils suggests inflammation or infection. A very high WBC count (>50,000) that is not a leukemia is known as a "leukemoid reaction". This reaction can be distinguished from malignant WBC's by the presence of large amounts of leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) in the normal neutrophils. |
|