Neutropenia is defined as an ANC count below which value?

Neutropenia is defined as an ANC count below which value?

• A. ANC below 2.0 x10^9/L.
• B. ANC below 1.5 x10^9/L.
• C. WBC below 2.0 x10^9/L.
• D. Hemoglobin below 12 g/dL.

Answer: (B)

Neutropenia is defined by the absolute neutrophil count, the number of neutrophils circulating in the blood. Normal ANC is roughly 2.0 to 7.5 x 10^9/L, and when it falls below 1.5 x 10^9/L, the risk of bacterial infections rises, which is why that threshold is used to define neutropenia. The total white blood cell count isn’t specific to neutrophils, so a low WBC doesn’t automatically mean neutropenia. Hemoglobin measures red cells, not neutrophils, so it isn’t relevant to defining neutropenia.

Neutropenia is defined by the absolute neutrophil count, the number of neutrophils circulating in the blood. Normal ANC is roughly 2.0 to 7.5 x 10^9/L, and when it falls below 1.5 x 10^9/L, the risk of bacterial infections rises, which is why that threshold is used to define neutropenia. The total white blood cell count isn’t specific to neutrophils, so a low WBC doesn’t automatically mean neutropenia. Hemoglobin measures red cells, not neutrophils, so it isn’t relevant to defining neutropenia.