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White Blood Cells

Picture of white blood cells

Image copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com

White blood cells protect the body against infection. Some types of white blood cells include lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils.

Each type of white blood cell plays a different role in protecting the body. The numbers of each type of white blood cells give important information about the immune system. Too many or too few of the different types of white blood cells can help find an infection, an allergic or toxic reaction to medicines or chemicals, and many conditions, such as leukemia.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Douglas A. Stewart, MD - Medical Oncology
Last Revised June 28, 2011

Last Revised: June 28, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine & Douglas A. Stewart, MD - Medical Oncology

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