In hematology, "EOS" commonly refers to Eosinophils, or sometimes the Absolute Eosinophil Count.
Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that play a role in the immune system, particularly in allergic reactions and parasitic infections. An absolute eosinophil count is a blood test that measures the number of eosinophils in your blood.
Eosinophils Explained
- What are they? Eosinophils are granulocytes, a type of white blood cell characterized by granules in their cytoplasm that stain readily with acidic dyes (hence the name "eosin").
- Function: They are involved in:
- Fighting parasitic infections.
- Modulating allergic inflammatory responses.
- Playing a role in other immune responses.
- Where are they found? Eosinophils are primarily located in tissues, with a smaller number circulating in the blood.
Absolute Eosinophil Count
- What is it? An absolute eosinophil count (AEC) measures the number of eosinophils in a microliter (µL) or liter (L) of blood.
- Why is it measured? The AEC helps diagnose and monitor conditions associated with eosinophilia (high eosinophil count) or eosinopenia (low eosinophil count).
- Normal Range: The normal range for AEC can vary slightly between laboratories, but it generally falls between 0 and 500 cells/µL (0 to 0.5 x 10^9/L).
- High Eosinophil Count (Eosinophilia): Can be caused by:
- Allergies (e.g., asthma, hay fever)
- Parasitic infections
- Certain medications
- Some cancers
- Autoimmune diseases
- Low Eosinophil Count (Eosinopenia): Can be caused by:
- Stress
- Use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids
- Cushing's syndrome
Therefore, when you encounter "EOS" in a hematology context, it's crucial to understand if it refers to the eosinophil cell type itself or the quantitative measurement of their concentration in blood, known as the absolute eosinophil count. This distinction is vital for accurate interpretation of blood test results.
