Absolute Lymphocyte Count (ALC) Calculator

Correlates ALC with CD4 levels that are used in HIV progression monitoring.

You can read more about the method used and about the original study in the text below the tool.


The ALC calculator estimates absolute lymphocyte count from the white blood cell count and correlates it with CD4 levels.

This is used in monitoring HIV progression and antiretroviral therapy, without having to go through the complex process of calculating CD4.


Formula: ALC = WBC count x 1000 x % Lymphocyte in WBC

ALC normal range is between 1.3 and 3.5 x 109/L.

The association between ALC and predicted CD4 can be found in the below table:

ALC in cells/mm3 Predicted CD4 count in cells/mm3
<1000 <200
1000 – 2000 Unpredictable interval
>2000 >200

Lymphocytes
White blood cell count
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1. Fill in the calculator/tool with your values and/or your answer choices and press Calculate.

2. Then you can click on the Print button to open a PDF in a separate window with the inputs and results. You can further save the PDF or print it.

Please note that once you have closed the PDF you need to click on the Calculate button before you try opening it again, otherwise the input and/or results may not appear in the pdf.


 

Variables and formula

The ALC calculator can be used to estimate the CD4 count (without having to go through complex and time consuming determining procedures) based on the white blood cell and lymphocytes count.

The absolute lymphocyte count formula is:

ALC = WBC count x % Lymphocyte in WBC x 1000

White blood cell differential count is one of the blood tests used in the diagnosis of conditions that affect the immune system:

■ Inflammatory illnesses;

■ Infections;

■ Tumors (leukaemia, lymphoma);

■ Immune deficiency.

The following table summarises the five types of WBCs and their involvement in the immune function:

WBC Shift pattern
Neutrophils Increased in bacterial infections or inflammatory disease
Decreased in severe infections, liver or spleen diseases
Lymphocytes Increased in bacterial, viral infections, leukaemia, spleen conditions, lupus or HIV infections
Monocytes Increased in some leukaemias
Decreased in bone marrow injury
Eosinophils Increased in allergic reactions, skin inflammation or parasitic infections
Basophils Increased in leukaemia, radiation therapy or long term inflammation
 

CD4 count explained

Estimating CD4 count from ALC is often used instead of actual testing because of the elaborate method required, which takes a long time.

CD4 T lymphocytes are a laboratory immune indicator in patients with human immunodeficiency virus and can monitor efficiency of anti-retroviral therapy and progression of the virus towards acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

The following table introduces the correlation between ALC and CD4 levels.

ALC in cells/mm3 Predicted CD4 count in cells/mm3
<1000 <200
1000 – 2000 Unpredictable interval
>2000 >200

Normal CD4 count is between 500 to 1,200 cells/mm3 and an ALC of less than 200 cells/mm3 is indicative of HIV progression to AIDS.

 

About the study

The study conducted by Shapiro et al. in 1998 was set to determine whether the absolute lymphocyte count (defined as white blood count multiplied by lymphocyte percentage) can be used to predict a low CD4 count.

807 samples from inpatient, clinic, and emergency department settings were retrospectively analysed by calculating:

■ Sensitivities;

■ Specificities;

■ Predictive values;

■ Likelihood ratios.

322 results (40%) had a CD4 count less than 200 cells/mm3 and it was found that ALC values lower than 1,000 cells/mm3 predicted CD4 counts less than 200 cells/mm3 with:

■ A sensitivity of 0.67;

■ A specificity of 0.96;

■ Positive predictive value of 0.91;

■ Negative predictive value of 0.81.

The study found that a reliable relationship exists between ALC and CD4 count and this can be used to identify patients with increased risk of opportunistic infection.

 

Original source

Shapiro NI, Karras DJ, Leech SH, Heilpern KL. Absolute lymphocyte count as a predictor of CD4 count. Ann Emerg Med. 1998; 32(3 Pt 1):323-8.

Other references

1. van der Ryst E, Kotze M, Joubert G, Steyn M, Pieters H, van der Westhuizen M, van Staden M, Venter C. Correlation among total lymphocyte count, absolute CD4+ count, and CD4+ percentage in a group of HIV-1-infected South African patients. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1998; 19(3):238-44.

2. Kakar A, Beri R, Gogia A, Byotra SP, Prakash V, Kumar S, Bhargava M. Absolute lymphocyte count: a cost-effective method of monitoring HIV-infected individuals. Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 2011; 54(1):107-11.


Specialty: Hematology

Objective: Determination

Type: Calculator

No. Of Variables: 2

Year Of Study: 1998

Abbreviation: ALC

Article By: Denise Nedea

Published On: June 7, 2017 · 07:04 AM

Last Checked: June 7, 2017

Next Review: June 7, 2023