1. What is Corrected WBC Count?

The corrected WBC count accounts for the presence of nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) in the blood sample. Automated cell counters may mistakenly count NRBCs as white blood cells, leading to falsely elevated WBC counts.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formula:

Where:

• Total WBC — Initial white blood cell count (cells/μL)
• NRBC — Number of nucleated red blood cells per 100 WBCs

Explanation: The formula adjusts the total WBC count downward based on the proportion of NRBCs present in the sample.

3. Importance of Corrected WBC

Details: Correcting the WBC count is essential for accurate diagnosis and monitoring of conditions like leukopenia, leukocytosis, and hematologic malignancies. NRBCs are normally absent in peripheral blood of adults, and their presence may indicate serious conditions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total WBC count in cells/μL and the number of NRBCs per 100 WBCs. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: When should I use corrected WBC count?
A: Use when NRBCs are present on peripheral smear (typically >5 NRBCs/100 WBCs).

Q2: What does the presence of NRBCs indicate?
A: May indicate bone marrow stress, hemolytic anemia, severe hypoxia, or hematologic malignancies.

Q3: Are NRBCs ever normal?
A: They can be normal in newborns but are abnormal in children and adults.

Q4: How are NRBCs reported?
A: Typically reported as number of NRBCs per 100 WBCs during manual differential.

Q5: Does this correction affect other cell counts?
A: No, this only corrects the WBC count. NRBCs are not included in RBC or platelet counts.