WHITE BLOOD CELL TEST
Nuclear Medicine
White Blood Cell Test
A nuclear imaging exam using your own white blood cells can help your physician detect white blood cell activity and diagnose infections in the body. This specialized test is particularly useful when the location of an infection is unclear or when other imaging methods haven’t provided definitive answers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
In this procedure, a technologist will first draw blood from your vein. A nuclear medicine pharmacist will remove the white blood cells from the blood and attach a small amount of radioactive material to them in a process called labeling. This process can take three (3) to four (4) hours.
After your white blood cells have been labeled, the radioactive blood will be injected back into your vein. The treated white blood cells will gather at the site of infection. You will return to our facility 24 hours after your injection for imaging. The pictures will take up to 90 minutes.
The white blood cell test is a two-day procedure. On the first day, blood is drawn and your white blood cells are labeled with radioactive material, which takes 3-4 hours. You’ll then return 24 hours later for imaging, which takes up to 90 minutes.
A nuclear medicine pharmacist must carefully separate your white blood cells from your blood sample and attach radioactive material to them in a sterile laboratory process. This precise work ensures accurate results and takes 3-4 hours to complete safely.
Your blood remains in our facility under controlled laboratory conditions. The white blood cells are separated, labeled with a small amount of radioactive material, and then prepared for reinjection into your body.
White blood cell scans are particularly effective at detecting bone infections (osteomyelitis), abdominal infections, abscesses, post-surgical infections, and other hidden infections that are difficult to locate with other imaging methods.