Lymphocytes "Lymphs" (Percent)
Other names: % Lymphocytes, Lymphocytes %
What Are Lymphocytes and What Do They Do?
Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that plays a vital role in your immune system, which protects your body from infections and diseases. They are part of a complex network of immune cells, lymph nodes, lymphatic tissues, and organs that work together to keep you healthy.
Types of Lymphocytes
There are three primary types of lymphocytes, each with a specific role:
-
T Lymphocytes (T Cells):
- T cells regulate the immune system and directly attack infected or cancerous cells.
-
B Lymphocytes (B Cells):
- B cells produce antibodies—proteins that specifically target and neutralize harmful invaders like bacteria, viruses, and toxins.
-
Natural Killer (NK) Cells:
- NK cells rapidly destroy tumor cells and infected cells without requiring prior activation, providing a fast-acting immune response.
How Do Lymphocytes Work?
Lymphocytes recognize and respond to antigens, which are foreign substances such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins that trigger an immune reaction. After encountering an antigen, some lymphocytes become memory cells, which allow the immune system to respond faster and more effectively when exposed to the same antigen again. This is the basis for the immunity provided by vaccines.
Lymphocytes constantly patrol the body, identifying potential threats and working with other immune cells like phagocytes (e.g., monocytes, macrophages) and dendritic cells to coordinate an effective defense.
When Are Lymphocytes Tested?
Your lymphocyte levels are typically measured as part of a routine blood test performed by your healthcare provider.
Why Does My Lymphocyte Count Vary?
Lymphocyte counts can vary due to factors such as age, sex, race, altitude, and lifestyle. It’s important to discuss abnormal results with your doctor, as these factors influence what is considered normal for you.
Where Are Lymphocytes Developed?
Lymphocytes are produced in the bone marrow and mature in different locations depending on their type:
- T cells mature in the thymus gland.
- B cells mature in lymph nodes and other lymphatic organs.
Once mature, lymphocytes circulate through your bloodstream and lymphatic system to monitor for threats.
What Do Lymphocytes Look Like?
Lymphocytes are slightly larger than red blood cells and have a large, dark-purple nucleus surrounded by a small amount of purplish cytoplasm, giving them their distinct microscopic appearance.
What Is the Normal Range for Lymphocytes?
Lymphocytes make up 20–40% of your total white blood cells. In adults, the normal absolute range is:
- 700–3,100 lymphocytes per microliter (mcL) of blood.
The table below outlines normal ranges and thresholds:
| Marker | Normal Count (Absolute) | Normal Range (Differential) | Low Levels | High Levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lymphocytes | 700–3,100 lymphocytes/mcL | 20–40% of total white blood cells | Fewer than 700 lymphocytes/mcL | Greater than 3,100 lymphocytes/mcL |
Your healthcare provider will interpret your results based on your overall health and individual factors.
How Is the Absolute Lymphocyte Count Calculated?
The absolute lymphocyte count is calculated during a complete blood count (CBC). It is determined by multiplying the total white blood cell (WBC) count by the percentage of WBCs that are lymphocytes.
Example Calculation:
If the total WBC count is 8,000 and lymphocytes account for 20%:
- Absolute lymphocyte count = 8,000 × 0.2 = 1,600 lymphocytes/mcL, which is within the normal range.
Note on Percentage (%) Reference Ranges
Many laboratories do not establish percentage reference ranges for lymphocytes. If these values are unclear, it is recommended to focus on the absolute lymphocyte count for accuracy.
Conclusion
Lymphocytes are vital to your immune system, helping your body identify, attack, and remember harmful invaders. Whether producing antibodies, killing infected cells, or responding to specific antigens, they are central to maintaining your health. Regular blood tests provide insights into your lymphocyte levels, helping to monitor your immune system’s status. Consult your healthcare provider for interpretation of your test results and personalized advice.
What does it mean if your Lymphocytes "Lymphs" (Percent) result is too high?
What Is Lymphocytosis?
Lymphocytosis refers to a higher-than-normal number of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, in your blood. It’s typically a sign of your immune system responding to an infection or another condition.
What Are Lymphocytes?
Lymphocytes are white blood cells that play an essential role in your immune system, helping your body fight off infections and other diseases.
What Causes Lymphocytosis?
Lymphocytosis often occurs when your body is responding to an infection or disease. In most cases, it’s a temporary condition indicating that your immune system is functioning to protect you. However, it can also be caused by more serious conditions, including certain cancers.
Common Causes of Lymphocytosis
Infections
Lymphocytosis is most commonly associated with viral infections but can also result from bacterial or parasitic infections. Examples include:
- Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis)
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Influenza (flu)
- Whooping cough
- Adenovirus
- Hepatitis
- Chickenpox or shingles
- Mumps
- Rubella
- HIV
Cancer
In some cases, lymphocytosis is an early indicator of blood cancers or lymphatic system cancers, such as:
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
- Large granular lymphocyte leukemia
Other Causes
- Smoking
- Allergic reactions to medication
- Stress from medical emergencies
- Autoimmune diseases
- Removal of the spleen (asplenia)
How Common Is Lymphocytosis?
Lymphocytosis is very common, especially in individuals who:
- Recently had an infection (commonly viral).
- Have conditions causing long-lasting inflammation (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis).
- Are reacting to certain medications.
- Have undergone trauma or severe illness.
- Have had their spleen removed.
- Are diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma.
Symptoms of Lymphocytosis
Lymphocytosis itself typically does not cause symptoms. However, symptoms may arise from the underlying condition causing the high lymphocyte count. For instance:
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck may occur due to an infection.
- Symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on the cause.
Often, individuals learn they have lymphocytosis after a blood test conducted for unrelated reasons.
How Is Lymphocytosis Diagnosed?
Medical Evaluation
Your provider will consider your:
- Medical history
- Current symptoms
- Medication list
- Lifestyle habits (e.g., exposure to infections)
A physical exam will also help identify potential causes of lymphocytosis.
Tests for Diagnosis
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Differential: Determines the number and types of white blood cells in your blood.
- Flow Cytometry: Identifies clonal lymphocytes, which can indicate cancers like chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
- Bone Marrow Biopsy: Examines bone marrow to determine the root cause of lymphocytosis.
What Is Considered Lymphocytosis?
In adults, lymphocytosis is typically defined as having more than 3,100 lymphocytes per microliter (mcL) of blood.
How Is Lymphocytosis Treated?
Addressing the Underlying Cause
- If lymphocytosis results from an infection, no specific treatment may be required; your immune system will usually resolve the issue.
- If caused by a serious condition like cancer, treatment options (e.g., chemotherapy, targeted therapy) will depend on the diagnosis.
Monitoring
Your provider may recommend follow-up blood tests to monitor your lymphocyte count. In cases of persistent lymphocytosis, further tests may be ordered to identify the cause.
Can Lymphocytosis Be Prevented?
While lymphocytosis itself cannot be prevented, you can reduce your risk of infections and related conditions by following these steps:
- Avoid close contact with sick individuals.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
- Avoid sharing personal items like utensils and towels.
- Disinfect commonly used surfaces and objects.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle to support your immune system.
When Should I Be Concerned About High Lymphocyte Levels?
You should contact your healthcare provider if:
- You have a persistent infection.
- You experience chronic symptoms or symptoms that worsen over time.
- You notice unusual signs, such as prolonged swelling of lymph nodes.
Your provider can determine if lymphocytosis is present during a complete medical evaluation and guide you through additional testing or treatment if needed.
Conclusion
Lymphocytosis is often a temporary and normal response to an infection, showing that your immune system is working to protect you. However, it can also be a sign of a more serious condition, such as cancer or an autoimmune disease. Regular blood tests and follow-ups with your healthcare provider can help monitor your lymphocyte levels and address any underlying causes.
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
What does it mean if your Lymphocytes "Lymphs" (Percent) result is too low?
What Does a Low Lymphocyte Count Mean?
A low lymphocyte count, known as lymphocytopenia (or lymphopenia), occurs when the number of lymphocytes in your blood falls below the laboratory reference ranges. This condition can be mild and temporary or severe and chronic, depending on the underlying cause.
Severe and Chronic Low Counts
Severely low or persistently low lymphocyte counts may indicate an underlying infection or illness that requires medical attention.
- Low T cell or NK cell levels: These can lead to an increased risk of uncontrolled viral, fungal, or parasitic infections.
- Low B cell levels: These can increase susceptibility to harmful and recurrent infections.
What Causes a Low Lymphocyte Count?
Lymphocytopenia can result from various conditions, treatments, or factors. Most causes are acquired, meaning they develop over time rather than being inherited.
Autoimmune Disorders
Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells and tissues, leading to lymphocytopenia. Examples include:
- Lupus
- Myasthenia gravis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Additionally, immunosuppressant medications used to treat autoimmune disorders can lower lymphocyte levels.
Cancer and Cancer Treatments
Certain cancers and their treatments are common causes of lymphocytopenia:
- Cancers: Lymphoma (e.g., Hodgkin’s lymphoma), Kaposi sarcoma, and leukemia.
- Treatments: Chemotherapy and radiation therapy often reduce lymphocyte production.
Blood and Bone Marrow Disorders
Diseases affecting blood and bone marrow can lower lymphocyte counts, such as:
- Aplastic anemia
- Lymphoproliferative disorders
Infections
Viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections can cause lymphocytopenia. Examples include:
- Viral infections: HIV, influenza, hepatitis, herpes, and mononucleosis
- Bacterial infections: Tuberculosis, typhoid fever
- Fungal infections: Histoplasmosis
- Parasitic infections: Malaria
Severe bacterial infections, such as sepsis, are also linked to low lymphocyte levels.
Inherited Causes
Although rare, inherited conditions can cause lymphocytopenia, including:
- Ataxia-telangiectasia
- DiGeorge syndrome
- Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
- Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
Nutritional Deficiencies
Malnutrition or undernutrition, particularly protein deficiency, can reduce lymphocyte production. Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, can also result in lymphocytopenia.
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Conditions that impair nutrient absorption or cause protein loss may lead to low lymphocyte counts. Examples include:
- Celiac disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
- Protein-losing enteropathy
- Zinc deficiency
Medications
Certain drugs can suppress lymphocyte levels, including:
- Chemotherapy agents
- Corticosteroids
- Methotrexate
- Interferons
- Opioids
- Bisphosphonates
Medication-induced lymphocytopenia often resolves after discontinuing the drug.
Kidney Disease
Advanced kidney disease or acute kidney injury can decrease T cell levels, leading to lymphocytopenia.
Trauma and Surgery
Injuries or surgeries, such as cardiac bypass, can temporarily reduce lymphocyte counts.
Other Causes
- Stress: Severe stress can suppress immune function.
- Alcohol misuse: Chronic alcohol consumption can impair lymphocyte production.
- Idiopathic CD4-positive lymphocytopenia: A rare condition with no identifiable cause.
What Are the Potential Treatments for Lymphocytopenia?
Treatment depends on addressing the underlying cause. In many cases, resolving the primary condition can restore lymphocyte levels. Treatment options include:
- Infection management: Antibiotics, antivirals, or antifungals to treat or prevent infections.
- Medication adjustment: If a drug is causing low counts, your doctor may change or discontinue it.
- Nutritional support: A nutrient-rich diet with sufficient protein, vitamins, and minerals can boost lymphocyte production.
In severe cases, additional therapies such as immune-boosting medications or bone marrow transplants may be necessary.
How Can You Prevent Lymphocytopenia?
While it’s not always possible to prevent lymphocytopenia, you can take steps to protect your immune system and reduce infection risk:
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals.
- Get adequate rest and manage stress to support your immune function.
- Practice good hygiene, including frequent handwashing and using hand sanitizer.
- Avoid crowded areas or people who are sick, especially during recovery.
- Take precautions to avoid cuts, scrapes, or injuries.
- Stay up-to-date on vaccines as recommended by your doctor.
Additional Notes on Lymphocytopenia
- Common Diagnosis: Lymphocytopenia is often identified through a routine complete blood count (CBC) test. Some individuals, especially older adults, may have slightly low lymphocyte levels without any underlying issues or symptoms.
- Temporary Condition: In many cases, lymphocytopenia is a temporary condition caused by recent infections, surgery, or medication, and it resolves on its own.
Conclusion
A low lymphocyte count can indicate a variety of conditions ranging from infections to chronic diseases. Most cases of lymphocytopenia are reversible, especially when the underlying cause is treated. If you’ve been diagnosed with lymphocytopenia, your healthcare provider may recommend follow-up blood tests, imaging, or other diagnostic measures to determine the root cause and appropriate treatment. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking precautions against infections can also support your immune health during recovery.
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
Frequently asked questions
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.
- Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
- Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
- Upload lab reports from any lab
- View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
- Track trends and monitor changes over time
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export and share your full lab history
- Access your results anytime, from any device
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 10000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
- The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
- GI-MAP,
- The NutrEval FMV®,
- The ION Profile,
- Amino Acids Profile,
- Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
- Organic Acids Test,
- Organix Comprehensive Profile,
- Toxic Metals,
- Complete Blood Count (CBC),
- Metabolic panel,
- Thyroid panel,
- Lipid Panel,
- Urinalysis,
- And many, many more.
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
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.
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.