The normal count of neutrophils in the blood is age-dependent:
Adults: 1.8 - 7 x 103/µl (microliter)
Children from 5 to 18 years old: 1.4 - 7.5 x 103/µl (microliter)
Children from 6 months old to 5 years old: 1.2 - 8.5 x 103/µl (microliter)
Babies from 2 to 6 months old: 1 - 7.2 x 103/µl (microliter)
Babies from 2 weeks old to 2 months old: 0.8 - 5.5 x 103/µl (microliter)
Newborns from 0 to 2 weeks old: 1.6 - 6.75 x 103/µl (microliter)
Each laboratory must establish its own normal ranges for the neutrophil count in the blood. These ranges depend on the makeup of the local population, the technologies used and the accuracy of the measurement. There may be also slight differences in the normal levels, according to age, gender, race or ethnic origin, geographic region, diet, type of sample and other relevant status.
Your doctor will study the results along with your medical record, screenings, physical condition, symptoms and any other relevant information about your situation.
Some circumstances can alter the normal ranges:
Neutrophils are a type of WBC (White Blood Cells) or leukocytes. They are the most abundant type of WBCs in the blood. They play a crucial role in the immune defense against invading pathogens (bacteria, virus and fungi).
Neutrophils constitute the primary defense of the body against microbial invasion through the process of phagocytosis. Phagocytosis is a major mechanism used to remove pathogens by which certain living cells ingest or engulf other cells or particles. Neutrophils are the first immune cells to arrive at the site of the injury to kill and ingest invading pathogenic microorganisms.
Neutrophils can be found in the blood or in any other tissue suffering from an inflammation or infection. Only a small amount of the neutrophil of the body is present in the bloodstream.
There are two types of neutrophils
The amount of neutrophil in the blood measures the ability of the body to fight against common infections. If the amount of neutrophils in the blood is low there is more risk to suffer an opportunist infection.
A neutrophil count above the normal range is common in bacterial infections, whereas a neutrophil count below is common in viral infections (viral hepatitis, measles, rubella, etc.) but every disease has a different pattern that should be studied.
A low neutrophil count in the blood is called neutropenia and may be a sign of:
Neutrophils are produced in the bone marrow. A high neutrophil count, called neutrophilia, correlates with an increase in their production to help in the immune defense of the body. Therefore, neutrophilia may be a sign of:
You can visit our pages about:
The following values are considered to be normal values:
IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in number of thousands/µl (microliter). They are an example of a healthy white woman of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.
Neutrophils | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normality | |||||||
| 1.8 x 103/µl | 1.9 x 103/µl | 2 x 103/µl | 2.1 x 103/µl | 2.2 x 103/µl | 2.3 x 103/µl | 2.4 x 103/µl | 2.5 x 103/µl |
| 2.6 x 103/µl | 2.7 x 103/µl | 2.8 x 103/µl | 2.9 x 103/µl | 3 x 103/µl | 3.1 x 103/µl | 3.2 x 103/µl | 3.3 x 103/µl |
| 3.4 x 103/µl | 3.5 x 103/µl | 3.6 x 103/µl | 3.7 x 103/µl | 3.8 x 103/µl | 3.9 x 103/µl | 4 x 103/µl | 4.1 x 103/µl |
| 4.2 x 103/µl | 4.3 x 103/µl | 4.4 x 103/µl | 4.5 x 103/µl | 4.6 x 103/µl | 4.7 x 103/µl | 4.8 x 103/µl | 4.9 x 103/µl |
| 5 x 103/µl | 5.1 x 103/µl | 5.2 x 103/µl | 5.3 x 103/µl | 5.4 x 103/µl | 5.5 x 103/µl | 5.6 x 103/µl | 5.7 x 103/µl |
| 5.8 x 103/µl | 5.9 x 103/µl | 6 x 103/µl | 6.1 x 103/µl | 6.2 x 103/µl | 6.3 x 103/µl | 6.4 x 103/µl | 6.5 x 103/µl |
| 6.6 x 103/µl | 6.7 x 103/µl | 6.8 x 103/µl | 6.9 x 103/µl | 7 x 103/µl | |||
Show more