Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is a measure of the number of
neutrophil granulocytes (also known as polymorphonuclear cells, PMN's, polys, granulocytes, segmented neutrophils or segs) present in the
blood
Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the cir ...
. Neutrophils are a type of
white blood cell that fights against
infection
An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable dis ...
.
The ANC is almost always a part of a larger
blood panel
A blood test is a medical laboratory, laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample that is usually extracted from a vein in the arm using a hypodermic needle, or via fingerprick. Multiple tests for specific blood components, such as a glucose ...
called the
complete blood count
A complete blood count (CBC), also known as a full blood count (FBC), is a set of medical laboratory tests that provide information about the cells in a person's blood. The CBC indicates the counts of white blood cells, red blood cells and pl ...
. The ANC is calculated from measurements of the total number of white blood cells (WBC), usually based on the combined percentage of mature neutrophils (sometimes called "segs," or segmented cells) and
bands, which are immature neutrophils.
Clinical significance
The
reference range for ANC in adults varies by study, but 1500 to 8000 cells per microliter is typical. An ANC less than 1500 cells/µL is defined as neutropenia and increases risk of infection.
Neutropenia is the condition of a low ANC, and the most common condition where an ANC would be measured is in the setting of chemotherapy for cancer.
Neutrophilia
Neutrophilia (also called neutrophil leukocytosis or occasionally neutrocytosis) is leukocytosis of neutrophils, that is, a high number of neutrophils in the blood. Because neutrophils are the main type of granulocytes, mentions of granulocytosi ...
indicates an elevated count. While many clinicians refer to the presence of neutrophilia as a "left shift," this is imprecise, as a left shift indicates the presence of immature neutrophil forms, but neutrophilia refers to the entire mass of neutrophils, both mature and immature. Neutrophilia can be indicative of:
* Premature release of myeloid cells from the bone marrow.
* A leukemoid reaction.
Calculation
ANC =
or
ANC = (''Absolute-Polys + Absolute-Bands'')
Ranges
Related tests
In some cases, a ratio is reported in addition to the sum. This is known as the "I/T ratio".
References
External links
Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC){{Myeloid blood tests
Blood tests