Band Neutrophils

A left shift indicates the presence in blood of neutrophils less mature than segmented neutrophils, e.g. band neutrophils and metamyelocytes

Canine band neutrophil
Cells of the neutrophil line are classified by the shape of their nuclei. Segmented neutrophils have nuclei with focal areas that are distinctly narrower than the width of the widest points and usually have irregular nuclear outlines. Cells with nuclei whose sides are parallel or nearly so or have smooth nuclear outliens are classified as band neutrophils.

Because some laboratories are more conservative than others in identifying cells as bands, the reference intervals for band neutrophils will differ from one laboratory to another. By the criteria that we use in identifying stages of neutrophil maturation, we found essentially no band neutrophils in the blood of the clinically healthy animals we used for our reference intervals. A mild left shift of less than 500 band neutrophils/µL with a normal WBC and no toxic change is often not a clinically significant finding. In many, but not all cases, a left shift with more than 500 bands/µL indicates a response to inflammation or bone marrow stimulation and release (e.g. immune-mediated hemolytic anemia).




Last Updated: June 2000