Segmented Neutrophils (Percent)
Other names: Segs
What Are Segmented Neutrophils?
Neutrophils (also known as "segs," "PMNs," or "polys") are a type of white blood cell, also called leukocytes, that play a vital role in the immune system. They are one of five major types of white blood cells, which also include lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. All white blood cells are essential for the body’s immune response and inflammatory reaction, helping to defend against harmful invaders like bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
Neutrophils and Their Role in Immunity
Neutrophils are classified as granulocytes alongside eosinophils and basophils, due to their ability to release granules containing enzymes that help fight infections. Segmented neutrophils, specifically, are the mature form of these cells, characterized by a nucleus that is divided into multiple segments.
Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and make up approximately 40%-60% of the body’s total white blood cell count. As the first line of defense against bacterial infections, they are phagocytic, meaning they can engulf and digest microorganisms, preventing infections from spreading.
How Neutrophils Are Measured
The concentration of segmented neutrophils is typically measured through a white blood cell differential test, which is often part of a Complete Blood Count (CBC). This test helps healthcare providers assess the number and types of white blood cells in the bloodstream, providing insight into the body's response to infections and other health conditions.
When Are Neutrophil Tests Ordered?
A healthcare provider may recommend a CBC with differential to evaluate neutrophil levels during routine check-ups or if a patient exhibits signs of an infection, such as:
-
Fever and shaking chills
-
Rapid pulse and breathing
-
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Abnormal neutrophil levels can also indicate various conditions, ranging from infections to inflammatory diseases or certain types of cancer.
What does it mean if your Segmented Neutrophils (Percent) result is too high?
Segmented Neutrophils (Percent) – High Levels
Segmented neutrophils, also known as mature neutrophils, are a type of white blood cell essential for fighting bacterial and fungal infections. They form a critical part of the body's immune defense, identifying and destroying harmful pathogens. When the percentage of segmented neutrophils in the blood is elevated, it typically indicates an immune response to an underlying condition.
Causes of High Segmented Neutrophils (Percent):
- Acute Infections: Bacterial infections are a common cause of elevated segmented neutrophils.
- Inflammatory Disorders: Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can trigger increased neutrophil levels.
- Stress or Physical Trauma: Severe physical stress, injury, or surgery can result in a temporary rise in neutrophils.
- Chronic Diseases: Conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cardiovascular diseases may also lead to high levels.
- Corticosteroid Use: Certain medications, especially corticosteroids, can elevate neutrophil counts.
- Leukemia or Myeloproliferative Disorders: In rare cases, persistently high levels may suggest hematologic diseases.
What Does a High Segmented Neutrophil Percentage Mean?
Elevated segmented neutrophils often reflect the body's response to infection, inflammation, or physiological stress. While a temporary increase may be normal during acute illness, persistently high levels should be evaluated to rule out chronic infections, autoimmune diseases, or hematological conditions.
When to See a Doctor
If high segmented neutrophil percentages are accompanied by symptoms like persistent fever, fatigue, joint pain, or unexplained weight loss, it’s important to seek medical advice for further investigation.
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 Segmented Neutrophils (Percent) result is too low?
Low Levels of Segmented Neutrophils (Percent)
Segmented neutrophils, also known as mature neutrophils or segs, are a type of white blood cell essential for the immune response. They help the body fight infections by attacking bacteria and fungi. Low levels of segmented neutrophils (percent) in a blood test indicate a condition called neutropenia, which may suggest a reduced ability to combat infections.
Causes of Low Segmented Neutrophils:
- Infections: Viral infections such as influenza, hepatitis, or HIV can suppress neutrophil production.
- Bone Marrow Disorders: Conditions like aplastic anemia, leukemia, or chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression reduce neutrophil production.
- Autoimmune Diseases: Disorders like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis can lead to immune-mediated destruction of neutrophils.
- Vitamin Deficiency: Deficiencies in vitamin B12 or folate can impair white blood cell production.
- Genetic Conditions: Congenital neutropenia or cyclic neutropenia are inherited disorders that cause periodic low neutrophil counts.
Symptoms of Low Segmented Neutrophils:
- Increased susceptibility to infections (fever, frequent illness)
- Slow wound healing
- Fatigue and weakness
What to Do if You Have Low Segmented Neutrophils:
If your segmented neutrophils percentage is low, your healthcare provider may recommend additional tests to determine the underlying cause. Treatment depends on the cause and may involve addressing infections, managing autoimmune conditions, or supplementing nutrients. For severe cases, medications like growth factors (G-CSF) may be used to stimulate neutrophil production.
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.