• Question: Are white blood cells white? Why?

    Asked by Zealousy to Josh on 24 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Josh Meyers

      Josh Meyers answered on 24 Jun 2015:

      Yes, white blood cells are white!

      The name ‘white blood cell’ refers to the physical appearance of the layer containing the white blood cells in a blood sample after it is centrifuged (spun round fast to separate the layers out).

      If you are asking why they aren’t red. They don’t have high levels of the protein haemoglobin which causes the red colouring in red blood cells.

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