Immune and inflammation
Lymphocytes (absolute lymphocyte count)
ALC
Included in every MyHealthspan membership: Focus, Baseline, and Complete.
Compare membershipsImmune cells that learn and remember.
Lymphocytes are white blood cells that target specific germs and remember them for next time. They include T cells and antibody-making B cells, and your count helps assess infection and immune health.
Your count reflects what your immune system is handling now.
Lymphocytes often rise during some viral infections, such as mono (infectious mononucleosis). They can fall during acute illness, including the flu, physical stress, or treatment with corticosteroids, because stress hormones lower the number circulating in your blood.
A count that stays low or high over repeated tests deserves a closer look. Long-term low lymphocytes can relate to poor nutrition, certain infections such as HIV, autoimmune conditions, or medications. Less often, a persistently high count points to a blood condition.
Questions
How do lymphocytes affect my NLR?
Your neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is your neutrophil count divided by your lymphocyte count. A drop in lymphocytes can raise NLR even when neutrophils haven't changed, so the two counts are worth reading together.
What should I do if my lymphocytes are low?
A single low result, especially during or after an illness, may simply be repeated later. A clinician will look at your symptoms, medications, and other blood results to decide whether follow-up testing is useful.