Monocytes
Monocytes circulate briefly in blood before entering tissues to become macrophages and dendritic cells that engulf pathogens, clear debris, and present antigens. Elevated counts are seen in chronic infection, tuberculosis, autoimmune disease, and certain leukemias; low counts can occur with severe bone marrow suppression or aplastic anemia.
Optimal range: who says what
No institution or named practitioner we track states an optimal target for Monocytes. How we verify ranges.
- General guidance, no named sourceWithin referenceNo separate optimal established
- Published reference interval2-8%Medscape
- Lab reference interval2-8% or 0.2-0.8 x10^9/LWhat a lab report flags against. A lab interval is not an optimal target.
20 of 21 itemized panels
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Why Monocytes matters
Phagocytes that engulf pathogens and debris. Elevated in chronic infections, autoimmune diseases. Transform into tissue macrophages for ongoing immune surveillance.
Reading a Monocytes result
Monocytes are about 2 to 8% of white cells (MedlinePlus). As with every differential cell, convert the percentage to an absolute count (WBC x percentage) and read that against the lab's own interval: a rise in one white cell type lowers the percentage of the others.
Common causes of a high result
- Chronic inflammatory or autoimmune disease
- Viral infection, such as mononucleosis, mumps or measles
- Tuberculosis
- Parasitic infection
- Trauma or medications (StatPearls)
- Leukemia
Common causes of a low result
- Myelodysplastic syndromes, where a low monocyte count is a common finding (StatPearls)
- Chemotherapy, radiation or bone marrow failure, which lower the total WBC count (MedlinePlus)
- Hairy cell leukemia, in which a low monocyte count is characteristic (Kennedy 2025)
- GATA2 deficiency, a rare inherited immune disorder with monocytopenia as a hallmark (Raffáč 2021)
What to check next
- A repeat CBC with differential
- Persistent, unexplained monocytosis warrants evaluation for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (StatPearls)
- The monocyte/HDL ratio uses this count; confirm the absolute monocyte count before reading the ratio
Sources: MedlinePlus: Blood differential test; MedlinePlus: WBC count; StatPearls: Histology, Monocytes (Espinoza, Emmady); Kennedy, van Marle, Afr J Lab Med 2025 (PMID 40183109); Raffáč et al., Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2021 (PMID 33714240). Checked against these sources 2026-09-23. General information, not medical advice; your lab's reference interval and your clinician's reading take precedence.
Which Providers Test Monocytes?
Cheapest: Oura Health Panels at $99/year. Most comprehensive: Function Health, 160+ biomarkers for $365/year.
20 panels that include it, cheapest first
| Provider | Annual Cost | Total Biomarkers | $/Biomarker |
|---|---|---|---|
| $99 | 50 | $1.98 | |
| $190 | 100+ | $1.90 | |
| $250 | 65 | $3.85 | |
| $297 | 100+ | $2.97 | |
 Labcorp OnDemand | $338 | 50+ | $6.76 |
 Superpower | $349 | 100+ | $3.49 |
| $349 | 75+ | $4.65 | |
 WHOOP Advanced Labs | $349 | 65 | $5.37 |
 Function Health | $365 | 160+ | $2.28 |
| $365 | 100+ | $3.65 | |
| $375 | 108 | $3.47 | |
| $449 | 83 | $5.41 | |
| $495 | 80+ | $6.19 | |
| $499 | 100+ | $4.99 | |
| $700 | 138 | $5.07 | |
| $829 | 54 | $15.35 | |
| $895 | 100+ | $8.95 | |
| $1188 | 70+ | $16.97 | |
| $1198 | 40+ | $29.95 | |
| $1950 | 130+ | $15.00 |
$/Biomarker is annual cost divided by the panel's advertised biomarker count, not the price of this one test. We track 23 blood test providers (32 plans); 21 of those plans are itemized marker by marker. Compare all of them.
1 itemized panel does not include Monocytes
11 providers not itemized in our matrix
We have not itemized these marker by marker (some sell tests one at a time), so this page cannot say whether they offer Monocytes. Check with them directly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the optimal range for Monocytes?
No institution or named practitioner we track states an optimal target for Monocytes. General guidance without a named source: Within reference (No separate optimal established). Published reference intervals: 2-8% (Medscape). Lab reference interval: 2-8% or 0.2-0.8 x10^9/L. That is what a lab report flags against, not an optimal target.
Which blood test providers include Monocytes?
20 of the 21 blood testing panels we itemize marker by marker include Monocytes in their panels. This biomarker is widely available across major providers.
Medical Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
Last reviewed Sep 23, 2026 · First published Nov 30, 2025