Neutrophils
Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cells and serve as the first line of defense against bacterial and fungal infection. Elevated counts (neutrophilia) occur with bacterial infection, inflammation, stress, or steroid use; low counts (neutropenia) raise infection risk and can result from chemotherapy, viral illness, or marrow disease.
Optimal range: who says what
No institution or named practitioner we track states an optimal target for Neutrophils. How we verify ranges.
- General guidance, no named sourceWithin referenceNo separate optimal established
- Published reference interval55-70% (2500-8000/μL)Medscape
- Lab reference interval40-70% or 1.5-8.0 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 Neutrophils matters
Primary defense against bacterial infections. Low counts (neutropenia) increase infection risk. High counts indicate active infection or inflammation.
Reading a Neutrophils result
Labs report neutrophils two ways: as a percentage of all white cells and as an absolute count (ANC), which is the WBC count multiplied by that percentage. Act on the absolute count. A rise in one white cell type lowers the percentage of the others, so a percentage can look abnormal while the absolute count is normal. StatPearls gives a typical adult ANC of 2,500 to 7,000/µL and defines neutrophilia as roughly above 7,700/µL. Neutropenia is below 1,500/µL: mild 1,000 to 1,500, moderate 500 to 1,000, severe below 500.
Common causes of a high result
- Acute infection
- Inflammation, including rheumatoid arthritis, gout and thyroiditis
- Acute physical or emotional stress, including trauma
- Cigarette smoking
- Medicines that raise the WBC count: corticosteroids, epinephrine, lithium, G-CSF
- Leukemia or other myeloproliferative disease
Common causes of a low result
- Viral infections, including influenza
- Chemotherapy or radiation
- Severe bacterial infection (sepsis)
- Bone marrow failure, such as aplastic anemia
- Medicines that lower the WBC count, including some antibiotics, antithyroid drugs and clozapine
- Benign familial neutropenia, more common in people of African and Caribbean ancestry, which needs no treatment
What to check next
- The absolute count and the rest of the differential, not the percentage alone
- A repeat CBC: StatPearls says the workup depends on symptom duration and the trend in values
- For persistent unexplained neutropenia: neutrophil antibody tests or a bone marrow biopsy (MedlinePlus)
Sources: MedlinePlus: Blood differential test; MedlinePlus: WBC count; MedlinePlus: Agranulocytosis; StatPearls: Neutrophilia (Tahir, Zahra); StatPearls: Neutropenia (Rout et al.); StatPearls: Leukocytosis (Mank, Killeen). 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 Neutrophils?
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 Neutrophils
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 Neutrophils. Check with them directly.
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Experts discussing Neutrophils
Podcast episodes where clinicians and researchers cover this marker in depth. Curated by hand; an episode is listed only when the marker is a substantial topic, not a passing mention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the optimal range for Neutrophils?
No institution or named practitioner we track states an optimal target for Neutrophils. General guidance without a named source: Within reference (No separate optimal established). Published reference intervals: 55-70% (2500-8000/μL) (Medscape). Lab reference interval: 40-70% or 1.5-8.0 x10^9/L. That is what a lab report flags against, not an optimal target.
Which blood test providers include Neutrophils?
20 of the 21 blood testing panels we itemize marker by marker include Neutrophils 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