Health Encyclopedia

Eosinophil count - absolute

Definition

An absolute eosinophil count is a blood test that measures the number of white blood cells called eosinophils. Eosinophils become active when you have certain allergic diseases, infections, and other medical conditions.

Alternative Names

Eosinophils; Absolute eosinophil count

How the test is performed

Blood is drawn from a vein, usually on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and an elastic band is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the band to fill with blood.

A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the band is removed to restore blood flow. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.

For an infant or young child, the area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.

In the laboratory, the blood is placed on a microscope slide. A stain added to the sample causes eosinophils to show as orange-red granules. The technician then counts how many eosinophils are present per 100 cells. The percentage of eosinophils is multiplied by the white blood cell count to give the absolute eosinophil count.

How to prepare for the test

No special preparation is necessary for adults.

Certain medicines may cause you to have an increase in eosinophils. Such medicines include:

Amphetamines (appetite suppressants)
Certain laxatives containing psyllium
Certain antibiotics
Interferon
Tranquilizers

How the test will feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people may feel moderate pain. Others may feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Why the test is performed

Your doctor may order an eosinophil count if another blood test, called a blood differential is abnormal. It may also be done if the doctor thinks you may have a specific disease.

This test may help diagnose:

Acute hypereosinophilic syndrome (a rare but sometimes fatal leukemia-like condition)
An allergic reaction (can also reveal how severe the reaction is)
Early stages of Cushing's disease
Parasitic infection

The test may also be done to determine how certain drugs work in your body (such as blood thinners) or to monitor Hodgkin's disease.

Normal Values

Less than 350 cells/mcL (cells per microliter)

What abnormal results mean

High numbers of eosinophils (eosinophilia) are usually associated with allergic diseases and infections from parasites such as worms. A high eosinophil count may be due to:

A lower-than-normal eosinophil count may be due to:

Alcohol intoxication
Over production of certain steroids in the body (such as cortisol)

What the risks are

Excessive bleeding
Fainting or feeling light-headed
Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
Multiple punctures to locate veins

Special considerations

The eosinophil count usually helps confirm, rather than make, a diagnosis. It can not tell if an increase is caused by allergy or parasite infection.

References

Hoffman R, Benz Jr. EJ, Shattil SJ, et al., eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingston; 2005:768.

McPherson RA and Pincus MR. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 21st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2007:474.

Review Date:4/5/2007
Reviewed By:Mark Levin, MD, Hematologist and Oncologist, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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