Other names: NK Cells CD3-CD16+CD56+ABS, Absolute CD3-/CD16+/CD56+ Count
Optimal Result:
70 - 760 cells/mcL.
The "CD3-/CD16+CD56+ (Absolute)" marker is a crucial measure for evaluating the absolute count of Natural Killer (NK) cells in your blood. NK cells are a vital type of lymphocyte, which is a category of white blood cells that play a key role in your body's first line of defense in its immune response. These cells are unique because they lack the CD3 marker, a characteristic typically found on T cells, and instead, are identified by the presence of CD16 and CD56 markers.
Understanding the absolute count of NK cells, rather than just their percentage among lymphocytes, provides a clearer picture of how equipped your immune system is to combat infections and potentially cancerous cells. NK cells are essentially the body’s natural surveillance system, capable of destroying cells that have become infected or have undergone malignant transformation, without the need for prior activation.
The clinical relevance of the NK cell count is significant. Variations in the number of NK cells can indicate a variety of health conditions. For instance, a decreased count of NK cells might leave an individual more susceptible to infections, autoimmune disorders, and certain types of cancer, pointing to a weakened immune system. On the other hand, elevated levels of NK cells could be observed in situations such as chronic fatigue syndrome, specific viral infections, or in response to certain cancer treatments, reflecting an activated immune response.
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T cells (marked by the CD3 surface protein) and Natural Killer (NK) cells are both crucial components of the body's immune system, but they differ significantly in their origins, functions, and mechanisms of action.
Origin and Development
- T Cells: These cells develop from precursor cells in the bone marrow but mature in the thymus (which is what the "T" stands for). The maturation process involves the selection of T cells that can recognize foreign antigens while being tolerant of the body’s own cells.
- NK Cells: NK cells also originate from precursor cells in the bone marrow but do not require maturation in the thymus. They are part of the innate immune system, which means they can respond to infected or malignant cells without prior sensitization to specific antigens.
Surface Markers
- T Cells: The presence of the CD3 molecule on their surface is a defining characteristic of T cells. This molecule is part of the T-cell receptor (TCR) complex and plays a crucial role in antigen recognition and signal transduction.
- NK Cells: NK cells are characterized by the absence of CD3 and the presence of other markers, such as CD16 and CD56. These markers are involved in recognizing stressed or altered cells and do not require antigen presentation to initiate an immune response.
Function and Mechanism of Action
- T Cells: They are primarily involved in the adaptive immune response, which is antigen-specific and includes memory capabilities. T cells can be further divided into several subtypes, including helper T cells (which assist other cells in the immune response), cytotoxic T cells (which kill virus-infected cells and tumor cells), and regulatory T cells (which modulate the immune response). Their activation requires the recognition of specific antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on the surface of antigen-presenting cells.
- NK Cells: NK cells are part of the innate immune system and can kill virus-infected cells and tumor cells without prior sensitization to antigens. They are able to recognize stressed cells in the absence of antibodies and MHC, primarily through a mechanism that involves the balance of activating and inhibitory signals received through their surface receptors.
Role in Immune Response
- T Cells: They play a key role in specifically targeting and remembering pathogens, providing long-lasting immunity. This specificity and memory are crucial for vaccines' effectiveness and for fighting off repeated infections by the same pathogen.
- NK Cells: They provide a rapid response to infected cells and cancer cells, often acting before the adaptive immune system is fully mobilized. They are also involved in shaping the adaptive immune response through the secretion of cytokines.
While both T cells and NK cells are essential for the body’s defense against infections and cancer, they differ in their development, surface markers, functions, and roles in the immune system. T cells are central to the adaptive immune response, offering specificity and memory, while NK cells are key players in the innate immune response, providing a rapid and non-specific defense mechanism.
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A low CD3-/CD16+CD56+, Absolute count means there are fewer natural killer (NK) cells in your bloodstream than expected. These cells are part of the innate immune system and are responsible for rapidly targeting and destroying virus-infected cells, cancer cells, and other abnormal cells—without prior exposure or the need for antigen presentation.
CD3-: Excludes T lymphocytes (which express CD3), helping isolate NK cells.
CD16+/CD56+: These are surface markers that identify natural killer (NK) cells.
Absolute count: Refers to the actual number of NK cells per microliter (μL) of blood.
Typical reference range: 90 to 600 cells/μL
Values may vary depending on the lab and patient age.
Genetic disorders such as NK cell deficiency, Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), or Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) may cause chronically low or absent NK cells.
Some chronic or severe viral infections, like HIV or hepatitis B/C, can suppress NK cell production or function.
Conditions like aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, or bone marrow infiltration (e.g., by leukemia) can reduce NK cell output.
These treatments often lower all types of white blood cells, including NK cells.
Prolonged physiological stress and high cortisol levels (e.g., Cushing’s syndrome) have been associated with reduced NK cell activity and number.
Some autoimmune diseases (like systemic lupus erythematosus) may disrupt NK cell development or survival.
Increased susceptibility to viral infections, especially herpesviruses like CMV, EBV, or HSV
Reduced tumor surveillance, which may theoretically increase long-term cancer risk
Delayed immune response during acute infection
Persistent or recurrent infections, particularly in individuals with other immune abnormalities
There are usually no symptoms directly caused by low NK cell counts, but patients may experience:
Frequent or severe viral infections
Recurrent fevers
Poor response to vaccines or slower recovery from infections
Your healthcare provider may:
Review recent illnesses, medications, and immune history
Order additional immune function tests (e.g., total lymphocyte subsets, immunoglobulin levels)
Investigate for underlying conditions like HIV, autoimmune disease, or bone marrow dysfunction
Monitor NK cell counts over time if part of a treatment or recovery process (e.g., after chemo or transplant)
A low CD3-/CD16+CD56+, Absolute count indicates reduced levels of natural killer (NK) cells, which play a vital role in innate immunity. Low levels can reflect immune suppression, bone marrow dysfunction, or genetic immune deficiency. While often asymptomatic, it may contribute to increased vulnerability to infections and impaired early immune responses. Evaluation should include broader immune system testing and a review of clinical context.
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Our user-friendly form guides you through a quick, simple submission process, making it easy to enter your health metrics.
Add your results anytime with our easy entry form. It's quick, guided, and helps you stay organized — free for all members.
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See your lab reports in clear graphs and tables. Spot patterns, track changes, and compare results over time — all in one place.
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Export Your Complete Lab History
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After collecting lab results from different providers, you can download your entire history combined into a single file.
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Our inclusive service handles the data entry for your lab reports. Just submit your information and we'll take care of the rest. Complete plan members receive one report entered for free, then $15 per report after that. Unlimited plan members receive ten report entries for free, then $15 per report after that.
Our inclusive service handles the data entry for your lab reports. Just submit your information and we'll take care of the rest.
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Whether you're working with a doctor, nutritionist, caregiver, or wellness coach, you can securely share your complete lab history by sending an invite link to anyone you trust. You have full control over who sees your information and for how long, ensuring your privacy and peace of mind at every step.
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Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
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If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.
It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.
If you're on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.
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There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."
Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.
For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.
We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.
Our Data Entry Service is for when you don't want to manually type in your lab results yourself. You simply upload your report (PDF, image, or screenshot), and our trained team enters the information into your Healthmatters account for you — accurately and neatly organized, ready to view in graphs, tables, and timelines.
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All professional accounts allow you to import and onboard an unlimited number of clients and their lab results. The distinction between professional plans lies solely in the data entry service.
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Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.
We've crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.
1. Graph View:Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.
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Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.
Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.
A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.
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To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.
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