Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that fights against infection.
The ANC is calculated from measurements of the total number of white blood cells (WBC), usually based on the combined percentage of mature neutrophils (sometimes called "segs", or segmented cells) and bands, which are immature neutrophils.
The reference range for ANC in adults varies by study, but 1500 to 8000 cells per microliter is typical.
While many clinicians refer to the presence of neutrophilia as a "left shift", this is imprecise, as a left shift indicates the presence of immature neutrophil forms,[citation needed] but neutrophilia refers to the entire mass of neutrophils, both mature and immature.
or ANC = (Absolute-Polys + Absolute-Bands) [2] In some cases, a ratio is reported in addition to the sum.