Overview

• Neutrophils phagocytose and digest foreign material in acute infectious or non-infectious inflammation.
• The degree of [neutrophil] increase (neutrophilia) and presence or absence of left-shift provides a valuable diagnostic (in combination with other tests) and prognostic tool in many diseases.
• Regenerative left-shift: neutrophilia with increased numbers of bands (mature neutrophils usually outnumber bands Hematology: band neutrophil, band cell ).
• Degenerative left-shift: increased numbers of bands without increased numbers of mature neutrophils. Presence indicates that production and release are not meeting demand.
• Marked left-shift (bands and metamyelocytes) Hematology: band neutrophil, band cell → acute to peracute, suppurative diseases. Any stage younger than the metamyelocyte is not capable of phagocytosis.
• Neutrophils are short-lived (approximately 4 days).

Sampling

Tests

Methodologies

• Manual hemocytometer - accuracy +/- 20-25%.
• Electronic counting systems - accuracy +/- 3-5% (intralaboratory precision) or +/- 10-15% (interlaboratory precision).
• Some in-practice analyzers or cell counting methods available.

Availability

• Widely available at commercial laboratories.
• May be performed in practice.

Validity

Sensitivity

• Sensitive.

Specificity

• Non-specific.

Predictive value

• Useful if used in conjunction with differential white blood cell counts.

Technician (extrinsic) limitations

• Some experience is required for accurate identification of leukocytes.

Result Data

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from VetMedResource and PubMed.
• Schnelle A N & Barger A M (2012) Neutropenia in dogs and cats: causes and consequences. Vet Clinics North Am Small Anim Pract 42 (1), 111-122 PubMed.
• Brown M R & Rogers K S (2001) Neutropenia in dogs and cats - a retrospective study of 261 cases. JAAHA 37, 131-139.

Other sources of information

• Valenciano A C & Cowell R E (2013) Cowell and Tyler's Diagnostic Cytology and Hematology of the Dog and Cat. 4th edn, Mosby, USA.
• Day N & Kohn B (2012) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Haematology and Transfusion Medicine. 2nd edn. BSAVA, UK.
• Latimer K S (2011) Duncan and Prasse's Veterinary Laboratory Medicine: Clinical Pathology. 5th edn. Iowa University Press, Ames, Iowa.
• Stockham S L & Scott M A (2008) Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Pathology. 2nd edn. Blackwell Publishing.
• Jain N C (1993) Essentials of Veterinary Hematology. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia.