Absolute Eosinophil Count Test in Paschim Vihar, Delhi

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell involved in allergic reactions and in fighting parasitic infections. The absolute eosinophil count (AEC) is the actual number of eosinophils in a microlitre of blood, calculated from the white cell count and the eosinophil percentage. It is more useful than the percentage alone, which can mislead when the total white count is abnormal.

A raised count (eosinophilia) is common in India and is most often due to allergy (asthma, hay fever, eczema), parasitic infection (especially intestinal worms and filariasis), drug reactions and, less often, skin diseases, autoimmune conditions and some blood cancers. Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia causes night cough and wheeze with very high counts and responds to specific treatment.

Counts vary through the day, with the lowest in the morning and highest at night, and fall with steroids and acute stress. Mild eosinophilia often needs no treatment, but persistent or very high counts need investigation of the cause, including stool tests, and tests for allergy.