Eosinophils
What it measures, and what changes the number.
This line gives the absolute number of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, in a given volume of blood. Eosinophils take part in allergic responses and in the immune response to parasites. The count comes from the white cell differential, part of a full blood count.
It is read together with the total white cell count and the eosinophil percentage, since the absolute number is calculated from both. It is often viewed next to IgE and the other white cell types to see the overall pattern.
Eosinophil counts vary through the day, tending to be lower in the morning when cortisol is higher, so the collection time can shift the result. The sample is drawn into an EDTA tube and counted by an automated analyser, sometimes confirmed by a manual smear. Labs may report it as Eosinòfils absolut or Eosinófilos.
Often read alongside: White blood cells, Eosinophils %, Basophils, Neutrophils, IgE