Absolute Eosinophils

What it is

Eosinophils are a small group of white blood cells most often associated with allergic-type immune responses and with parasitic infections; the absolute count is the real number circulating per volume of blood. Because they're normally so few, this count has notable natural variation — it tends to be higher in the early morning and lower later in the day, can shift with allergy seasons, and can be lowered by stress or corticosteroid medications. It's reviewed alongside your total WBC, the rest of the differential, and what's actually going on with you, so one value outside the reference range is read as part of a pattern rather than a conclusion.

Typical range

Reference ranges vary between laboratories, and what is normal for you depends on your own history. Your own lab’s range is the one printed on your report.

Worth asking your clinician

• Is my absolute eosinophil count different enough from my previous results to be worth looking into?
• Could allergies, the time of day of my draw, or a medication explain this value?
• Would rechecking this at another point add useful context?