What is my ANC?
Enter the white blood cell count and the percent of segmented neutrophils and bands from a blood count with differential to get the absolute neutrophil count. For information only. This is not medical advice or a diagnosis. Do not use it to make treatment decisions without a clinician. No licensed clinician has reviewed this page.
- Absolute neutrophil count
- 3,770
Your absolute neutrophil count is 3,770 cells/µL: Not neutropenic (1,500 or more).
Not neutropenic (1,500 or more)
- Severe neutropenia (under 500)
- Moderate neutropenia (500 to 999)
- Mild neutropenia (1,000 to 1,499)
- Not neutropenic (1,500 or more)
- Neutropenia grade
- Not neutropenic (1,500 or more)
- ANC (×10⁹/L)
- 3.77
Absolute neutrophil count: 3,770. Your absolute neutrophil count is 3,770 cells/µL: Not neutropenic (1,500 or more).
Which neutropenia grade?
This calculator gives general information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace a doctor or other health care provider. Talk with a professional about your results. Terms of use
How to calculate
Calculates the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) from the white blood cell count and the percent of segmented neutrophils and bands, and grades neutropenia with the NCI CTCAE cut-offs.
Example with the default inputs (White blood cells (×10³/µL) 6.5, Segmented neutrophils 55%, Band neutrophils 3%): Your absolute neutrophil count is 3,770 cells/µL: Not neutropenic (1,500 or more).
Method: ANC (cells/µL) = WBC (×10³/µL) × 1,000 × (% segmented neutrophils + % bands) ÷ 100.
- The white cell count is in thousands per microliter (×10³/µL), which is the same number as ×10⁹/L.
- Bands left empty count as 0. The ANC is rounded to a whole number, and the grade is read from that number.
- Grades follow the NCI CTCAE v5.0 cut-offs of 1,500, 1,000, and 500 cells/µL. Some labs set their lower limit of normal a little differently.
Worked examples
Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.
- White blood cells (×10³/µL) 6.5, Segmented neutrophils 55%, Band neutrophils 3% gives Absolute neutrophil count 3,770, Neutropenia grade Not neutropenic (1,500 or more), ANC (×10⁹/L) 3.77.Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms, absolute neutrophil count. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/absolute-neutrophil-count
- White blood cells (×10³/µL) 2.1, Segmented neutrophils 40%, Band neutrophils 5% gives Absolute neutrophil count 945, Neutropenia grade Moderate neutropenia (500 to 999), ANC (×10⁹/L) 0.945.Source: National Cancer Institute, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0, Neutrophil count decreased (grades by cells/µL). https://ctep.cancer.gov/protocoldevelopment/electronic_applications/ctc.htm
- White blood cells (×10³/µL) 0.8, Segmented neutrophils 30% gives Absolute neutrophil count 240, Neutropenia grade Severe neutropenia (under 500), ANC (×10⁹/L) 0.24.Source: National Cancer Institute, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0, Neutrophil count decreased (grades by cells/µL). https://ctep.cancer.gov/protocoldevelopment/electronic_applications/ctc.htm
- White blood cells (×10³/µL) 3, Segmented neutrophils 50%, Band neutrophils 0% gives Absolute neutrophil count 1,500, Neutropenia grade Not neutropenic (1,500 or more), ANC (×10⁹/L) 1.5.Source: National Cancer Institute, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0, Neutrophil count decreased (grades by cells/µL). https://ctep.cancer.gov/protocoldevelopment/electronic_applications/ctc.htm
Medical disclaimer
This calculator is for information and education only. It is not medical advice, and its result is not a diagnosis. Do not use it to start, stop, or change a treatment without a clinician who knows your health history. No licensed clinician has reviewed this page. This site's editors checked the formulas and worked examples against published sources. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number.
When this does not apply. The ANC needs a complete blood count with a differential (segs and bands). The grades come from the NCI rules for side effects of cancer treatment (CTCAE v5.0); they do not find the cause of a low count. A fever with a low ANC needs urgent medical care.
How the ANC is worked out
ANC (cells/µL) = WBC × 1,000 × (% segmented neutrophils + % bands) ÷ 100
- WBC is the white blood cell count in thousands per microliter (×10³/µL). That is the same number as ×10⁹/L.
- Bands left empty count as 0. If segs and bands add up to more than 100%, there is no answer.
- The ANC is rounded to the nearest whole number (halves round up, read from the decimal value: a result within 1e-9 (relative) of a half counts as the half, so 2.005 rounds to 2.01). The SI value is that number ÷ 1,000, in ×10⁹/L.
Grades
The grade is read from the whole-number ANC with the NCI CTCAE v5.0 cut-offs, lower bound included:
| ANC (cells/µL) | Shown as | CTCAE v5.0 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 or more | Not neutropenic | no grade |
| 1,000 to 1,499 | Mild neutropenia | grade 2 |
| 500 to 999 | Moderate neutropenia | grade 3 |
| under 500 | Severe neutropenia | grade 4 |
CTCAE v5.0 grade 1 is a count from the lab's lower limit of normal down to 1,500, so this page does not show it. CTCAE v6.0 (2025) moved each neutropenia grade up by one level; this page uses the v5.0 cut-offs (Merz 2025). Some people, including many of African or Middle Eastern descent, have a healthy ANC a little under 1,500 (benign ethnic neutropenia).
Inputs the calculator accepts
White count 0.01 to 500 ×10³/µL; segs and bands 0% to 100% each.
Worked examples by hand
The default. WBC 6.5, segs 55%, bands 3%: 6.5 × 1,000 × 58 ÷ 100 = 3,770 cells/µL (3.77 ×10⁹/L), not neutropenic.
Moderate. WBC 2.1, segs 40%, bands 5%: 2,100 × 45 ÷ 100 = 945 cells/µL, moderate neutropenia.
Severe. WBC 0.8, segs 30%, no bands: 800 × 30 ÷ 100 = 240 cells/µL, severe neutropenia.
On the cut-off. WBC 3.0, segs 50%, bands 0%: 3,000 × 50 ÷ 100 = 1,500 cells/µL, which is not neutropenic because 1,500 is the lower bound of that group.
Other questions people ask
What is the ANC?
The absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that fights bacterial and fungal infection, in one microliter of blood. A low ANC (neutropenia) raises the risk of infection. It is watched closely during chemotherapy.
How do you calculate the ANC?
Multiply the white blood cell count by the percent of neutrophils, counting both mature (segmented) neutrophils and bands. For a white count of 6,500/µL with 55% segs and 3% bands: 6,500 × 0.58 = 3,770 cells/µL.
What ANC is too low?
The NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v5.0) grade a count of 1,000 to 1,499 cells/µL as grade 2, 500 to 999 as grade 3, and under 500 as grade 4. Grade 1 is a count below the lab's lower limit of normal but still 1,500 or more. Many clinicians call these ranges mild, moderate, and severe neutropenia. A fever with an ANC under 500 is a medical emergency.
Why are bands included?
Bands are young neutrophils that already fight infection, so they count toward the ANC. If the report does not list bands, leave that field at 0.
Are the units ×10³/µL and ×10⁹/L the same?
Yes. 10³ cells per microliter is the same as 10⁹ cells per liter, so a white count of 6.5 ×10³/µL is 6.5 ×10⁹/L. The page shows the ANC in cells/µL and in ×10⁹/L.