Name

Absolute neutrophil count

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Definition

A measure of the number of neutrophils in the blood. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell. They help the body fight infection. An absolute neutrophil count may be used to check for infection, inflammation, leukemia, and other conditions. The lower a person's absolute neutrophil count is, the higher the risk is of getting an infection. Having an absolute neutrophil count of less than 500 means there is a high risk of getting an infection. Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, may reduce the absolute neutrophil count.

Resource

Title: National Cancer Institute
NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

Alternate Names

ANC

Abstractor Notes

None

Histology

None

Primary Sites

None
Glossary