Absolute neutrophil count

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Absolute neutrophil count

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

Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's Cell s ? such as nutrients and oxygen ? and transports waste products away from those same cells....
. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell

White blood cell

White blood cells , or leukocytes , are cell of the immune system defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials....
that fights against infection

Infection

An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. In an infection, the infecting organism seeks to utilize the host resources to multiply ....
.

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 band

Band cell

A band cell is a cell undergoing granulopoiesis, derived from a metamyelocyte, and leading to a mature granulocyte.It is characterized by having a cell nucleus which is curved, but not lobar....
s, which are immature neutrophils.

rmal ANC is above 1,500 cells per microliter.

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Encyclopedia

Blood

White blood cell

White blood cells , or leukocytes , are cell of the immune system defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials....
that fights against infection

Infection

Band cell

Clinical significance

A normal ANC is above 1,500 cells per microliter. An ANC less than 500 cells/µL is defined as neutropenia and significantly increases the risk of infection. Neutropenia

Neutropenia

Neutropenia , from Latin language prefix neutro- and Greek language suffix -pe??a is a Hematology disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of a type of white blood cell called a neutrophil....
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. Neutropenia

Neutropenia

Neutrophilia

Neutrophilia is a condition where a person has a high number of neutrophil granulocytes in their blood....
indicates an elevated count.

Calculation

The unit of ANC is cells per microlitre (abbreviated µL; a microlitre is equal to one cubic millimetre

Millimetre

The millimetre is a Units of measurement of length in the metric system, equal to one thousandth of a metre, which is the current International System of Units SI base unit of length....
) of blood.

Ranges

NCI Risk Category	ANC
0	Within normal limits
1	=1500 - <2000/mm³
2	=1000 - <1500/mm³
3	=500 - <1000/mm³
4	< 500/mm³

Source: NCI CTC Toxicity scale Version 2.0

Related tests

In some cases, a ratio is reported in addition to the sum. This is known as the "I/T ratio" (or "I:T ratio").