A comparison of the white cell counts of cord blood from babies of different ethnic origins

Abstract

Cord blood samples were collected from 242 babies of five different ethnic groups. All had a birth weight of at least 2.5 kg, but they were otherwise unselected. No ethnic differences were found in the total white cell count, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte or eosinophil counts. Thus the lower total white cell and neutrophil count which has been observed in adults of African and Afro-Caribbean origin is not present in neonates. Similarly eosinophil counts did not differ between the different ethnic groups suggesting that high eosinophil counts previously reported in Indian and African subjects have an environmental cause.