From the Guidelines
The normal level of Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) in adults typically ranges from 1,500 to 8,000 neutrophils per microliter of blood. This range is crucial for determining the risk of infection, particularly in patients with fever and neutropenia, as highlighted in the practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections 1. According to these guidelines, an ANC of less than 100 cells/µL is considered profound neutropenia, which significantly increases the risk of infection.
Key Points to Consider
- The normal ANC range in adults is between 1,500 and 8,000 cells/µL.
- An ANC below 1,500 is considered neutropenia, with severity classifications based on the count.
- Monitoring ANC is essential for patients undergoing chemotherapy, those with certain infections, or individuals with autoimmune disorders, as noted in the guidelines for managing fever and neutropenia 1.
- The calculation of ANC involves multiplying the percentage of neutrophils by the total white blood cell count, which is a critical value for assessing immune function.
- Patients with anticipated prolonged and profound neutropenia or a Multinational Association for Supportive Care (MASCC) score of less than 21 are considered high-risk for infection, as per the guidelines 1.
From the Research
Normal ANC Level
The normal absolute neutrophil count (ANC) level is typically considered to be above 1.5 x 10^9/L [ 2, 3, 4 ].
Definition of Neutropenia
Neutropenia is defined as an ANC of less than 1.5 x 10^9/L [ 2, 3, 4 ]. Severe neutropenia is defined as an ANC of less than 0.5 x 10^9/L [ 5, 4 ].
Key Points
- The risk of infection is greatest with severe neutropenia [ 5 ].
- Neutropenia can be caused by various factors, including congenital marrow defects, intrinsic and acquired disorders [ 5 ].
- Evaluation of patients with neutropenia should include confirmation of neutropenia, examination of a blood smear, and a careful review of the patient's medical history, family history, and physical examination [ 5 ].
- The ANC level can be used to assess the severity of neutropenia and predict the risk of infection [ 2, 3, 4 ].