What is it?
Eosinophils (EOS) are a form of white blood cell and make up part of the immune system. They are commonly involved in allergic type reactions or in the body′s fight against parasite infections. There are two values in your report, EOS# as a percentage and EOS% as a numerical count.
Interpretation
Eosinophils are particularly important during allergic responses and in the body`s response against parasites. They are often raised in allergic reactions or conditions such as eczema or asthma that involve an allergic type immune response.
Reference ranges
If your eosinophil count is lower than the reference range for our laboratory:
Usually this is not of any significance but can sometimes be associated with excess alcohol consumption and, very rarely, with overproduction of a hormone called cortisol.
We would suggest speaking to your GP to discuss the need for further investigation.
If your eosinophil count is higher than the reference range for our laboratory:
This is often due to underlying conditions such as eczema or asthma, but may be due to parasite infection, other inflamamtory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, drug reactions, or some rare forms of cancer.
We would suggest speaking to your GP to discuss the need for further investigation.
