Arneth count

Arneth Count

Arneth count or Arneth index (/ɑːrnɛθ kaʊnt/; from the German physician Josef Arneth) is a medical term used in hematology to describe the distribution of neutrophil nuclei shapes. It is a diagnostic tool used to identify certain blood disorders and infections.

Etymology

The term is named after the German physician Josef Arneth who first described the method in the early 20th century.

Definition

The Arneth count is a measure of the percentage of neutrophils with a certain number of lobes in their nuclei. It is used to identify shifts in the population of neutrophils, which can indicate certain diseases or conditions. The count is usually expressed as a percentage of neutrophils with one, two, three, four, or more lobes.

Procedure

To perform an Arneth count, a blood smear is examined under a microscope. The number of lobes in the nucleus of each neutrophil is counted and the results are plotted on a graph or chart. This provides a visual representation of the distribution of neutrophil shapes, which can help to identify any abnormalities.

Clinical Significance

An abnormal Arneth count can indicate a number of different conditions. A shift to the left (i.e., an increase in the percentage of neutrophils with fewer lobes) can indicate a bacterial infection or certain types of leukemia. A shift to the right (i.e., an increase in the percentage of neutrophils with more lobes) can indicate a vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, or certain types of anemia.

Related Terms

• Neutrophil
• Hematology
• Leukemia
• Anemia
• Vitamin B12
• Folic Acid

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Arneth count
• Wikipedia's article - Arneth count

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