WBC count: past & present

Photo. 1) Automatic counter.

                   ACE Counter FLC-240A(11 year old), HORIBA. Ltd.

                 →　http://www.horiba.com/medical-diagnostics/

             You can measure to Leukocyte, Red blood cell, Hb, 

             Ht ; Platelet. using whole blood of 20 micro-litter.

Photo. ２) Neubauer Hemacytometer Photo.３) prick device, disposable plastic pipette 

                   and glass pipette

---------------------------------

Leukocyte count

---------------------------------

We, pediatricians frequently have been order to measure White

Blood Cells(leukocyte) and its differential, as described in the

clinical records of first human trial on penicillin.

→http://keiji-hagiwara.blogspot.com/2008/08/first-clinical-trials-of-penicillin.html

At present, the counting of white blood cell is very easy to do

, less than 5 minutes.  Doctors need no technician.

In the past, the enumeration of leukocyte was counting manually

using Hemacytometer under light microscope.

Manual determination of White Blood Cells :

1) a few micro-litter of whole blood were filled to the pipette.

2) diluted with stain solution, and squeeze gently several times.

3) charge Neubauer Hemacytometer with stained blood.

4) using 100x magnification, count leukocytes in the 4 corner

     squares( total: 16 corners), of the counting camber.

5) multiply number of leukocytes counted by 50 = Total WBC

     count. if 210 leukocytes are counted, total count is 210x50=

     10,500/cu mm.

Any questions:  write to Keiji Hagiwara, MD                          

                                            keijihagiwara@gmail.com