Total Leucocyte Count (TLC) Test -Normal Range, Process, Procedure

Total Leucocyte Count (TLC) assesses the levels of white blood cells (or leukocytes) in the bloodstream. Your doctor might prescribe this as part of the Complete Blood Count (CBC) test to assess any possible risks of infections or underlying complications in the body.

Understanding what is TLC in a blood test and its significance in assessing underlying health complications is crucial for a comprehensive diagnosis and quicker treatment.

This article will explore more about the total leukocyte count test and how you can interpret the results.

What is Total Leukocyte Count?

The TLC measures the level of white blood cells in the body. When it comes to assessing the leukocyte count, it involves the levels of five different types of white blood cells:

• Neutrophils,
• Eosinophils,
• Basophils,
• Lymphocytes,
• Monocytes.

If any of these markers appear high or exponentially low in the blood test reports, it is a potential sign of an underlying infection or other acute or chronic complications.

What is the Purpose of Getting a Total Leukocyte Count test?

Knowing the meaning of TLC in blood tests clarifies more than half of your questions. Ideally, the test is prescribed as part of the CBC test that assesses all the blood markers and types of blood cells in the body. They can be part of a routine health check-up or they could be done as a response to an alarming symptom the patient is experiencing.

A comprehensive TLC report can assess the possibilities of:

• Infections
• Autoimmune diseases
• Immune deficiencies
• Blood disorders
• Side effects of cancer treatments
• Bone marrow dysfunction
• Inflammation

If you present with any persistent symptoms of pain, swelling, fever, etc., your doctor will prescribe this as part of your general check-up. The report gives a comprehensive understanding of any underlying complications contributing to the symptoms.

Reasons Your Doctor May Suggest You A Total Leucocyte Count Test:

• Routine Health Assessment: One of the reasons your healthcare practitioner may suggest a Total Leucocyte Count (TLC) Test is to detect underlying health conditions even when symptoms are absent & help assess your general well-being.
• Suspect Infection: Another reason a doctor may suggest a TLC Blood Test is to confirm the cause of your unexplained symptoms, like fatigue, body aches, unusual discharge, fever, etc. It determines if an infection is present in your body & checks its severity too.
• Monitor Infections: Besides detecting the infection, a TLC Test helps monitor the progress of the infection & check the effectiveness of the treatment. It allows healthcare professionals to determine whether the prescribed medicine works fine or requires adjustments.
• Evaluate Immune System: The test assesses how well your immune system functions to determine any abnormalities. A low TLC usually signifies a weakened immune system & high TLC implies an overactive immune response or some disorders related to the immune system.
• Helps Diagnose Blood Disorders: Total Leucocyte Count Test finds abnormalities in white blood cell count that further diagnose blood disorders like leukemia, lymphoma, and more.
• Post-Surgery Or Transplant: If you have recently undergone surgery or transplant, you may be asked to go for a Total Leucocyte Count Test to monitor the body’s response, diagnose abnormalities and monitor the immune system recovery.

Your healthcare practitioner may observe your symptoms, medical history, and other factors to suggest a Total Leucocyte Count Blood Test. And getting tested in time can unveil a lot about your health. Therefore, if your doctor has advised this test, book now with Redcliffe Labs.

How To Be Prepared For Total Leucocyte Count Test?

The test procedure is simple and requires no special preparations. However, in general:

• It is good to inform healthcare practitioners about your ongoing medication (if any) before the test.
• The test doesn’t require fasting, but if you are on a special diet, take dietary recommendations from your healthcare practitioner.
• Sleep well before the test to keep your hormones balanced.
• Do not stress and keep anxieties at bay to ensure it doesn’t interrupt your test results.

In addition, if you have any concerns or queries regarding the test, procedure, or more, feel free to communicate with us. We’d be happy to help.

Procedure Of Total Leucocyte Count Test:

The general outline of the procedure of the Total Leucocyte Count Test is as follows:

• A phlebotomist will first ask you to sit comfortably. They will then tie a band around your arm and clean the area with a disinfectant.
• Once the vein is visible, they insert a sterilized needle to draw the blood.
• After withdrawing the blood, the sample will be transferred to a vial to send to the laboratory for analysis.
• When the needle is removed with the specified amount of blood, the phlebotomist will apply a bandage over the punctured site.

The procedure is simple, has no risks, and will be done within 5-10 minutes. You can talk to a phlebotomist or healthcare professional about concerns or doubts.

What is the Normal Total Leukocyte Count?

Now that you have a basic understanding of what is TLC in a blood test report, you must know about the normal range of the same. Ideally, a normal range indicates that the person is healthy with no active infections or complications in the body.

The normal white blood cell or leukocyte count is between 4,000 and 11,000/microliters. This could depend more or less on the gender and age of the individual.

Men have a slightly higher WBC level ranging between 5,000 and 10,000/microliters. Adult women, on the other hand, have a range between 4,500 and 11,000/microliters. The leukocyte count in children is similar to that of an adult male at 5,000 and 10,000/microliters.

Remember that these are clinical ranges and might vary during pregnancy, and in newborns. The range can even differ from one testing lab to the other.

Interpreting Total Leukocyte Count Reports

So, you have gotten the CBC test done, and you have the reports in your hand. How do you understand what is high TLC in a blood test and its significance? The same applies to a low level of white blood cells as well.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the high and low total leukocyte count and the possible risks associated with it.

Reports	Range	Possible Risks
High TLC	A level over 11,000/microliters.	-Infections -Fever -Injury -Pregnancy -Asthma -Allergies -Stress -Tissue damage -Hemorrhage -Leukemoid reaction -Heart attack -Post-operative complications -Leukemia -Tumors in the bone marrow -Inflammatory diseases -Vasculitis
Low TLC	A level below 4000/microliters.	-Autoimmune disorders -HIV/AIDS -Bone marrow disorders -Severe infections -Liver dysfunction -Spleen disorder -Lymphoma -Lupus -Effects of cancer therapy -Side effects of medicines -Alcoholism -Malaria

 Just because a high and low leukocyte count has these possible risks tied to them doesn’t mean you have them. In fact, there are possibilities that it could be a temporary complication in the body that’s instigated due to stress or other factors.

Instead of self-diagnosing or reaching forward conclusions, discuss the possibilities with your doctor. For a more comprehensive diagnosis, your doctor might prescribe further testing.

FAQs

What happens if the TLC count is high?

A high TLC level in the blood indicates a possible risk of infection in the body. However, that’s not all because several undiagnosed medical conditions can elevate the leukocyte levels too. Your doctor will prescribe further comprehensive testing to ascertain what’s causing the complications before reaching a final diagnosis.

What is a normal range of TLC?

The normal range of TLC is between 4000 to 11,000/microliters in an adult individual or in a healthy child as well.

What is low TLC in a blood test?

A level lower than 4000/microliter is considered a low TLC in the blood test. Your doctor will find a possible trigger for the condition before reaching a final diagnosis.

Conclusion

leukocytes play a crucial role in the overall functions of the body. In case you are experiencing any alarming symptoms, getting the TLC as part of your complete blood count test is considered ideal. It gives an estimate and idea of any underlying complication that needs immediate treatment. The TLC test is a fairly simple and safe blood test that takes a minute or two.