White-blood counts, polymorph counts, leucocyte ascorbic-acid and plasma ascorbic-acid levels were measured in 91 samples of blood obtained from patients admitted to a geriatric assessment unit. There was a correlation between both white-blood counts and polymorph counts and leucocyte ascorbic-acid levels. There was no correlation between white-blood counts and polymorph counts and plasma ascorbic-acid concentrations. It is suggested that this phenomenon represents migration of ascorbate-rich polymorphs to areas of infection and infarction.