The Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) is a calculated parameter based on the total number of white blood cells, the percentage of neutrophils, and the percentage of band cells in a patient's blood sample at a given time. It has been used as a parameter to assess immune function and risk stratify patients for likelihood of acute bacterial infection.

ANC levels have become a benchmark to assess the risk of opportunistic bacterial infections, in particular immunosuppressed patients with malignancy receiving chemotherapy.

Citations

Freifeld AG, Bow EJ, Sepkowitz KA, Boeckh MJ, Ito JI, Mullen CA, Raad II, Rolston KV, Young JA, Wingard JR.
Clinical practice guideline for the use of antimicrobial agents in neutropenic patients with cancer: 2010 update by the infectious diseases society of america. Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Clin Infect Dis. 2011;52(4):e56


Contributed by: Riley Golby, MD