Immunology

Experiment 9

Aim of the Experiment

Total WBC Count

Principle

A white blood cell count is used to calculate the proportion of white blood cells contained in a blood sample. Because the proportional quantities of white blood cells might fluctuate in some disorders, the test is important. The normal range of WBCs in the blood is 4,500 to 11,000 WBCs per microliter.

Specimen : In an EDTA tube, well-mixed whole blood was taken.

Materials required

• Hemocytometer with Neubauer chamber.

• Cover slip

• Slide

• WBC diluting fluid

• Micropipette

• Blood Sample

• Microscope.

Procedure

1. Sample: Take Clean the hemocytometer and coverslip with an alcohol prep and dry them. Make sure there are no water marks on the chamber or coverslip.

2. Dilute your sample i.e. 1:20 (1ml of WBC diluting fluid into 50 microliter of blood sample)

3. Load your sample into the loading area in the chamber. Here the tip of the pipette is touched to the side of the hemocytometer chamber and drop of the fluid will run under the cover slip.

4. Count the cells in the 4 large squares for WBC

5. Calculate the number of cells counted / μL

Cells/ μL = cells counted x Dilution factor

Area x Depth