Absolute neutrophil count

Overview
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. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that fights against infection. A deficiency of neutrophils, known as neutropenia, may increase chances of infection.

The ANC is calculated from measurements of the total number of white blood cells (WBC) and the numbers of neutrophils and bands, which form a subset of the total number of white blood cells. A normal ANC is above 1,500. An ANC less than 500 is defined as neutropenia and significantly increases the 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.

$$ ANC = (\%neutrophils + \%bands)\times WBC $$

The unit of ANC is cells per microlitre of blood.

Neutrophils/granulocytes Source: NCI CTC Toxicity scale Version 2.0

Acknowledgements
The content on this page was first contributed by: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D.

Initial content for this page in some instances may have came from Wikipedia and AskDrWiki

Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources:

1.The Disease Database

2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3

3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7

List of contributors: