What are Bands ?

[hopeful51]

Every now and then when I get weekly blood test, I also get something called A differental manual.
It has stuff on it that I have no idea what it is the one thing on this test that does seem to change are my Bands.
Can any one tell me what tese are?

Thanks for any info you can help me with.
Always thinging of you all

Hopeful51

[JennyPenny]

Bands are immature white blood cells.

[JennyPenny]

I couldn't get my note back to you to post. So I copied it for here. Hee it is:

Just a quick note to say hi!

You're very welcome. Actually bands is something that changes daily and most people (docs) don't even bother with it. The important thing on the differential is your absolute neutrophil count, better known as ANC. Normal is approximately 1800 - 7800. Interferon tends to lower that. The gastros get nervous when that reaches about 750 but the hematologists don't worry til it drops to less than 500. That is when they treat with Neupogen. By the way,  the neutrophils are part of the white cells that fight infection. The other important thing in the diff is your platelet count. Platelets can be low from interferon or low from cirrhosis. Hemoglobin gets low from the ribavirin and they can treat that with procrit or a blood transfusion. So, the most important labs to look at are ANC, Platelets and Hemaglobin.

Hope that helps,

Jdenny-Penny (Susie)