Neutrophils
What it measures, and what changes the number.
Neutrophils are the most plentiful type of white blood cell and act as early responders to infection and tissue injury. This line gives the absolute count, meaning the number of neutrophils in a given volume of blood, calculated from the total white cell count and the share of cells identified as neutrophils.
It is part of the white cell differential, so it is read alongside the total white blood cell count, the neutrophil percentage and the other cell types such as lymphocytes and monocytes. Absolute counts are often more informative than percentages because a percentage can shift simply when another cell type rises or falls.
The count can move with recent exercise, stress, time of day and the age of the sample before analysis. Most labs use an automated analyser, sometimes confirmed by a manual smear review. Reports may show it as Neutròfils absolut or Neutrófilos.
Often read alongside: White blood cells, Neutrophils %, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils