Which blood component is primarily analyzed to determine white blood cell count?

The primary component analyzed to determine the white blood cell count is leukocytes. Leukocytes, or white blood cells, are critical elements of the immune system, tasked with defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders. The leukocyte count indicates how many white blood cells are present in a given volume of blood and can provide valuable information regarding a person’s health status, particularly in diagnosing infections, inflammation, and various medical conditions such as leukemias.

In contrast, platelets are involved in blood clotting, red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body, and hemoglobin is the protein within red blood cells that binds oxygen. These components do not serve as indicators of white blood cell counts and are analyzed for entirely different purposes. Thus, the focus on leukocytes for the white blood cell count makes it the correct answer in this context.