Question

If a patient has a WBC count of 10,000/µL showing 30% monocytes and 70% lymphocytes, the patient's absolute monocyte count is:

A. 30 cells/µL
B. 300 cells/µL
C. 3,000 cells/µL
D. 30,000 cells/µL

Answer 1

The absolute monocyte count for a patient with a WBC count of 10,000/µL and 30% monocytes is 3,000 cells/µL, which is option C.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the patient's absolute monocyte count, we use the given percentage of monocytes in the total white blood cell (WBC) count. We know the patient has a WBC count of 10,000/μL with 30% being monocytes. To find the absolute count, we perform the following calculation:

• Multiply the total WBC count by the percentage of monocytes (expressed as a decimal).
• 10,000/μL × 0.30 = 3,000/μL.

Therefore, the patient's absolute monocyte count is 3,000 cells/μL, which corresponds to option C.

Note: An abnormally high count of monocytes can indicate the presence of certain infections or chronic diseases, suggesting the importance of these cells in the body's immune response