A comprehensive guide on Absolute Neutrophil Count: definition, techniques and importance
Neutrophil is a specific type of white blood cell present in normal blood in certain amounts. These cells are associated with infections, inner immunity, chemotaxis and other abnormal pathologies predominantly. These cells help in healing the infections spreads and killing the harmful microbial agents.
There are 5 different types of white blood cells: Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils, Monocytes and Macrophages. These cells are present in specific proportions in blood in normal physiological conditions. The total number of Neutrophils present in blood considering the number of WBCs is termed as Absolute Neutrophil count or ANC.
How to perform absolute neutrophil count: procedure explained step-by-step
* First, you have to calculate the total count of WBC and calculate the percentage. Once some blood is collected from the vein of the patient, the collected blood is then processed in a standard laboratory and a complete blood count report is prepared. This complete count contains the percentage of WBC cells termed as differential counts.
* Then, you have to combine the numbers of segmented or mature neutrophils and band or immature neutrophils. The result represents the total number of Neutrolphils present in blood. This result is termed as total neutrophil count.
* Now, you have to multiply the number with total count of WBC and then divide that by 100. The result you get is ANC or absolute neutrophil count. Calculating ANC becomes very easy with an ANC calculator. Let's explain the whole process with an example:
Let, the WBC is 11,000 cells per microliter according to complete blood count report. Band neutrophils are 5% and segmented neutrophils are 12% according to the differential count. Then, ANC will be: (segmented neutrophils+ band neutrophils) x total number of WBC/100.
ANC = {(12+5) x 11000}/100 = 1700 neutrophils/microliter of blood
Importance of ANC
* Neutrophil count proves extremely important for diagnostic purposes. Neutrophils are presumptive cells of active inflammation. Normal level of neutrophils is 1500 cells per liter. If the count is less than this, the condition is termed neutropenia. This condition refers to numerous clinical conditions, infections and severe diseases. A person suffering from neutropenia must be careful about maintaining health.
* Major causes of neutropenia: decreased production level in bone marrow (due to diseases like aplastic anemia, vitamin b12 and folate deficiency, malignancy, radiation, arsenicosis etc.), increased rate of neutrophil destructions (diseases like autoimmune neutropenia, chemotherapy etc.), Hemolytic anemia and some drugs (e.g. Phenytoin, Chlorpromazine, Indomethacin etc)
* Neutrophilia is also a clinical condition when the count exceeds normal level. This condition is associated with presence of active infection, acute and chronic inflammations. The count increases and helps the body fight these microbial agents. This mostly refers to a physiological process. Some autoimmune diseases, drug reactions also give rise to this condition which requires expert concerns.
* The person suffering from abnormal blood counts of these polymorphs (neutrophils) should be careful about a few things: cleanliness and hygiene, dental care and overall health status. For more info visit Absolute Neutrophil Count
There are different procedures to calculate the number of the white blood cells separately. Eventually, faster and more efficient techniques are being discovered and practiced in laboratories. These advanced technologies allow the medical professionals diagnose the diseases efficiently. And thus, morbidity rates have significantly decreased around the world.
There are 5 different types of white blood cells: Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils, Monocytes and Macrophages. These cells are present in specific proportions in blood in normal physiological conditions. The total number of Neutrophils present in blood considering the number of WBCs is termed as Absolute Neutrophil count or ANC.
How to perform absolute neutrophil count: procedure explained step-by-step
* First, you have to calculate the total count of WBC and calculate the percentage. Once some blood is collected from the vein of the patient, the collected blood is then processed in a standard laboratory and a complete blood count report is prepared. This complete count contains the percentage of WBC cells termed as differential counts.
* Then, you have to combine the numbers of segmented or mature neutrophils and band or immature neutrophils. The result represents the total number of Neutrolphils present in blood. This result is termed as total neutrophil count.
* Now, you have to multiply the number with total count of WBC and then divide that by 100. The result you get is ANC or absolute neutrophil count. Calculating ANC becomes very easy with an ANC calculator. Let's explain the whole process with an example:
Let, the WBC is 11,000 cells per microliter according to complete blood count report. Band neutrophils are 5% and segmented neutrophils are 12% according to the differential count. Then, ANC will be: (segmented neutrophils+ band neutrophils) x total number of WBC/100.
ANC = {(12+5) x 11000}/100 = 1700 neutrophils/microliter of blood
Importance of ANC
* Neutrophil count proves extremely important for diagnostic purposes. Neutrophils are presumptive cells of active inflammation. Normal level of neutrophils is 1500 cells per liter. If the count is less than this, the condition is termed neutropenia. This condition refers to numerous clinical conditions, infections and severe diseases. A person suffering from neutropenia must be careful about maintaining health.
* Major causes of neutropenia: decreased production level in bone marrow (due to diseases like aplastic anemia, vitamin b12 and folate deficiency, malignancy, radiation, arsenicosis etc.), increased rate of neutrophil destructions (diseases like autoimmune neutropenia, chemotherapy etc.), Hemolytic anemia and some drugs (e.g. Phenytoin, Chlorpromazine, Indomethacin etc)
* Neutrophilia is also a clinical condition when the count exceeds normal level. This condition is associated with presence of active infection, acute and chronic inflammations. The count increases and helps the body fight these microbial agents. This mostly refers to a physiological process. Some autoimmune diseases, drug reactions also give rise to this condition which requires expert concerns.
* The person suffering from abnormal blood counts of these polymorphs (neutrophils) should be careful about a few things: cleanliness and hygiene, dental care and overall health status. For more info visit Absolute Neutrophil Count
There are different procedures to calculate the number of the white blood cells separately. Eventually, faster and more efficient techniques are being discovered and practiced in laboratories. These advanced technologies allow the medical professionals diagnose the diseases efficiently. And thus, morbidity rates have significantly decreased around the world.