How soon will the test arrive?

If you order your test before midday on a Monday to Friday then your kit will be dispatched the same day. All our kits are sent out via Royal Mail first class post, so it should be with you within 1-2 working days.

When will I get my results?

We aim to deliver your results within 2 working days of your blood sample arriving at our lab.

How do I view my results?

When you buy your test, we will ask you to create an account with us during checkout. This will give you access to your own, secure health dashboard where you can view your results.

How secure is my data?

We have strict processes in place to ensure the protection of your data. Following GDPR the company also operates under tight legal rules about the sharing of data which ensures that data is only shared if it is crucial to the delivery of our service. For example, our doctors see customer results at the time of review, however, after review, access to results is withdrawn.

How do I find out my results are ready?

We keep you updated throughout the process by email and text message. We will let you know when your blood sample has arrived at our lab. Once the blood sample has been analysed one of our doctors will review your results. Once your results are ready, we will email you and send you a text message to let you know your results are ready for you to view in your health dashboard.

Does a doctor review my results?

We have a team of doctors and nurses who look at all results and will comment on any results that are outside of the normal range for your age.

What is White Blood Cell (WBC) Count & Why Is it Important for Athletes?

1 min read

Published on

May 22, 2025

Written by

EDGE

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What Is White Blood Cell (WBC) Count?

White blood cells (WBCs) are key components of the immune system, helping the body fight off illness and recover from physical stress. For athletes, WBC count can reveal how well the immune system is coping with training, travel, or illness.

"WBC count reflects immune function. Low levels are common in well trained athletes so there are subtle differences to the way the results should be interpreted based on your training status. Overly suppressed levels can indicate overtraining or low energy availability, while elevated counts may suggest infection or inflammation. I advise testing every 6 months or after illness, and reviewing alongside hs-CRP to distinguish between acute inflammation, immune suppression or training adaptation."

Dr Thom Phillips

What are normal WBC levels for athletes?

We looked at blood test data from EDGE customers and found that the median white blood cell count level for men and women was 5.4 and 5.6, respectively.

Here is a breakdown of white blood cell count levels by age:

*Table 1: White Blood Cell Count Levels in Men and Women by Age Group (109/L)**
Age Group	Female	Male
18-29	5.5	5.4
30-39	5.4	5.6
40-49	5.9	5.3
50-59	5.9	5.5
60+	7.0	5.4

Source: EDGE customer blood test results Apr 2023 – March 2025.

The labs we used to analyse blood samples state that a healthy range for white blood cell count is generally between 3.6-11 (10*9/L) for women and 3.8-10.6 (10*9/L) for men.

Median WBC levels for male and female athletes in the UK, 2025.

How It Relates to Training

Infection Monitoring

Elevated WBCs may signal infection or inflammation. Suppressed levels may mean immune suppression from overtraining.
Recovery Insight

Post-training or competition, a temporarily elevated WBC is normal, but chronically high or low counts require attention.
Overtraining Marker

Consistently low WBCs can be a red flag for RED-S or excessive training load without recovery.