NCC stands for "Nucleated Cell Count" which works as "White Blood Cell Count" for mammals, but not for birds or reptiles which have nucleated red blood cells.
This is usually a machine-generated number although the total white blood cell count can be done manually with a hemocytometer as well.
White blood cells include neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils but collectively they are responsible for what we generally think of as immunity. They range from highly specialized cells that go after particular antigens to generalized eaters of our body's "garbage" or stuff like absorbable suture that the body identifies as foreign and, therefore, in need of disposal, or even cells responsible for allergic reactions.
Increases in white blood cells or "leukocytosis" indicates:
-Excitement: this is common in cats. If they become overly excited during the blood
draw all of the cells that are normally loosely attached to the
endothelial lining of the blood vessels detach and end up in circulation
where they can be drawn out and counted. This means that the increase
isn't "real" because there aren't really more cells being made, it's
just that the ones that aren't usually counted because they stick to the
blood vessel wall were counted even though in 30 minutes or so they'll
go back to where they belong. If this is the case you'll see normal or
slightly increased lymphocyte numbers.
-Inflammation or other causes of neutrophilia: because neutrophils are the most common leukocyte (at least in dogs and cats), when the numbers of neutrophils increase dramatically you can also end up with a leukocytosis as a result.
-Decreases in white blood cells or "leukopenia" indicates:
- Viral diseases: such as feline distemper (aka "panleukopenia"), canine parvovirus, etc
-Infection: bacterial infection, septicemia, toxemia, endotoxins
-Drug-related: such as with the use of sulfonamides
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