what is monocytes in blood test

Monocytes are a type of white blood cell that help fight infections and diseases in the body. They are produced in the bone marrow and then enter the bloodstream, where they can either kill invading germs or alert other blood cells to help destroy them and prevent infection. Monocytes are the largest type of white blood cell and are nearly twice the size of a red blood cell. They can be identified under a microscope based on their size and their two-bodied nucleus that floats in a contained fluid called cytoplasm. A normal monocyte count is between 2% and 8% of your white blood cell count, which equals about 200 to 800 monocytes per microliter of blood in healthy adults. A blood test called a white blood count (WBC) differential can measure monocyte levels, which is often part of a complete blood count (CBC) . A high monocyte level may indicate inflammation, infection, blood disorders, and other health issues, but doctors interpret monocyte levels in the context of other factors and tests, and a high monocyte level is not enough to diagnose any health issue.