Clinically Significant Neutrophil Counts

Clinically Significant Neutrophil Counts
ANC (Absolute Neutrophil Counts)
Clinical Significance
>1,500/mm3 Is Normal
1,000-1,500 No significant propensity to infection. Fevers can be managed on an outpatient basis.
500-1,000 Some propensity to infection. Occasionally fever can be managed on an outpatient basis.
less than 500 Significant propensity to infection. Always should be managed as inpatient with parenteral antibiotics. Few clinical signs of infection.

These rules apply strictly for neutropenia with hypoplastic marrow, early myeloid arrest, and decreased granulocyte reserve pools.
There is more latitude for clinical judgment in neutropenias with normocellular marrow.
The exception to these rules is chronic benign neutropenia of childhood.