hypersegmented neutrophil count

Indications

• evaluation of megaloblastic anemia

Reference interval

• not normally present

Clinical significance

• seen in association with megaloblastic anemia
• aged, degenerated neutrophils with excessive nuclear segmentation
• 5 or more lobes define a hypersegmented neutrophil
• typically neutrophils have 2-4 lobes
• up to 5% of neutrophils in patients with megaloblastic anemia are hypersegmented
• in nutritional megaloblastic anemia,
  • hypersegmented neutrophils are an early sign
  • correction of the nutritional deficit generally clears hypersegmented neutrophils from the blood stream in 2 days; however, it may take months

Specimen

• Whole blood (EDTA)
• Stable for 24 h at 4 C

More general terms

• segmented neutrophil count

Additional terms

• hypersegmented neutrophil count