Absolute Monocytes
The actual number of monocytes per microliter of blood.
| Typical reference range | 200–950 cells/uL |
Ranges vary by laboratory, method, age and sex: always use the range printed on your own report. Why labs differ.
What it measures
Absolute monocytes are WBC multiplied by the monocyte percentage. Monocytes become macrophages that clear pathogens and dead cells and shape inflammation.
Why it matters
Persistent monocytosis can signal chronic infection, inflammation or a blood disorder, and higher monocyte counts have been linked to atherosclerosis.
What a high result can mean
High counts occur during recovery from infection, with chronic infections (tuberculosis, endocarditis), inflammatory bowel disease, sarcoidosis, autoimmune diseases, and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.
What a low result can mean
Low counts can occur with corticosteroids, chemotherapy, aplastic anemia and hairy cell leukemia.
What affects the result
Transient increases follow infections. Persistently elevated values (above ~1000) without explanation deserve review.
Units and conversion
Usually reported in cells/uL.
- From x10E3/uL: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
- From K/uL: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
- From 10^3/uL: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
- From x10^9/L: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
- From 10*3/uL: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
- From Thousand/uL: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
- From x10E9/L: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
Also called on lab reports
Monocytes (Absolute), Monocytes Absolute, Monocytes(Absolute), Mono #, Monocytes, Absolute, Absolute Monocyte Count, Monocytes Abs
Related tests: White Blood Cells & Differential
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a healthcare professional.