What is an absolute number of neutrophils?
Absolute number of neutrophils (ANC) is a laboratory test measuring the number of neutrophils present in a blood sample measured to a microlite. This test provides important information about the patient's immune condition because neutrophils play a key role in the human immune system. Doctors may apply for an absolute number of neutrophils in a patient suspected of an immune condition or a patient with a risk of immunocompromism, such as a patient undergoing cancer chemotherapy for diagnosis and evaluation. They have a relatively short lifetime in the body and the absolute number of neutrophils can provide an excellent image of the current immune function. In the test, the technicians look at both ripe neutrophils and immature cells that differentiate neutrophils to project the number of patients over the next few days except how many cells are active.
If the number of absolute neutrophils is above 1,500, it is in normal range. The numbers below 1,000 indicate mild neutropenia. The patient is at risk of infection but the risk is relativelyLow if the patient performs preventive measures of common sense. The number of 500 or less are in a danger zone. The patient's immune system is highly endangered and the patient will not be able to fight infection. For patient safety, contact with other people should be limited to individuals known to be healthy.
When the number of neutrophils is calculated, patients may be advised to take special measures to prevent infection. It is recommended to wash hands to reduce the spread of infection and avoiding a crowded environment, where many people can carry infections that are small for them, and potentially serious for someone with a compromised immune system. For individuals with very for safety, hospitalization may be recommended, hospitalization can be recommended to stay at home and restrict access to healthy family members and carers.
doctors may apply for an absolute number of neutrophilsto the patient undergoing chemotherapy to determine how well the patient reacts and identify potential risks to the patient. This, along with other laboratory tests, is used to monitor the patient's progress during chemotherapy. If the patient does not respond, a new treatment plan may develop a secondary chemotherapeutic medicine to see if the patient's cancer responds to these drugs.