What laboratory finding in a school-age child warrants reporting to the provider?

A white blood cell (WBC) count of 14,000/mm3 in a school-age child is notable because it signifies leukocytosis, which can indicate an underlying infection, inflammation, or other medical conditions that may require further investigation. In a healthy child, the normal range for WBC count typically falls between about 5,000 to 10,000/mm3. Therefore, a count above this threshold can be clinically significant and warrants reporting to the provider for appropriate management.

In contrast, a WBC count of 10,000/mm3 is within the normal range and does not require further action. A platelet count of 300,000/mm3 is also within normal limits, as the typical range for platelets is approximately 150,000 to 450,000/mm3. Similarly, a hemoglobin level of 13.5 g/dL is considered normal for school-age children, as healthy levels generally range from about 11.5 to 15.5 g/dL. Thus, these two findings would not be alerts for intervention.