How do you calculate the absolute neutrophil count (ANC)?

To calculate the absolute neutrophil count (ANC), the method involves determining the number of neutrophils present in a given volume of blood. This is achieved by using the white blood cell (WBC) count and the percentage of neutrophils. The correct approach is to multiply the total WBC by the percentage of neutrophils (including both segmented neutrophils and bands) expressed as a decimal.

This means that option B correctly represents the formula: the total WBC count is multiplied by the total percentage of all neutrophils. Neutrophils are a critical component of the immune system, and calculating the ANC is vital for assessing a patient's risk for infections, especially in a neonatal intensive care setting where patients may be particularly vulnerable.

Understanding the correct calculation of ANC is important for healthcare providers, as a low ANC can indicate neutropenia, increasing the risk of infections and guiding further clinical management.