The Segs blood test is primarily designed to determine how many neutrophils, or white blood cells, are active in the bloodstream at that point in time. Segs refer to the specific segmental white blood cells which are responsible for fighting off an infection. They will generally congregate around the infection site and are rapidly used by the body to kill of the intrusion. When pus is removed from an infected area of the body, it is primarily made up of these segmented cells.
Sometimes the Segs blood test is ordered in combination with other bloodwork to get a full picture of what the white blood cells are doing in the body. At other times, this test may be specifically ordered to determine if there is sepsis present.
Why Is This Blood Test Ordered?
Because segs are one of the first responders to inflammation when it occurs, the body will recruit many to the site of an injury within minutes. This is the primary reason behind acute inflammation when it occurs. The Segs blood test is not ordered to determine if there is an infection or inflammation present, especially if there is a known injury.
There are three primary reasons why a doctor will order this particular blood test.
1. To determine if a patient’s symptoms are the result of a bacterial infection that is active.
2. To discover if certain cancers are present within the body, demanding the attention of the white blood cells.
3. To see if environmental exposure has negatively affected health in some way.
These white blood cells don’t last very long in the bloodstream. The average lifespan in circulation is about 5 days. During this time, they will position themselves so that they can travel to where they need to go. Once they reach the tissues or invader that is present, they will survive for about 24-48 hours.
Your doctor may ask you to meet certain conditions in order to have the Segs blood test completed. Make sure to follow all instructions completely to make sure the test results are as accurate as possible.
Was a Full Differential Test Ordered?
The Segs blood test is generally ordered when a complete blood count comes pack with a positive result for higher than normal white blood cells. It will typically be part of a differential blood test that determines the different types of white blood cells that are present within the bloodstream. Having unusually high or low white blood cell counts of a specific type will indicate the presence of inflammation, infection, or disease that may not be symptomatic, but potentially require treatment.
Segs will be present whenever the body needs to have its fighters out against an infection. When other white blood cells are present, like Basos or Eosinophils, then this may indicate a specific infection is present, such as a parasitic infection.
One of the most important questions to ask with the differential test is if there is the presence of lymphocytes. These white blood cells also fight infections, but they can also indicate the presence of certain cancers that are within the body. If there are low lymphocytes and low segs in the bloodstream, then there may be an issue with the bone marrow or sepsis may be present.
What If the Test Results Are Positive?
Just because there are Segs present in a blood sample does not necessarily mean that there is something problematic going on within the body. The same is true about having low white cell blood counts. Low Segs counts can be as the result of a genetic disorder or be caused by medication, such as immune system depressors or chemotherapy. Doctors need to know this information because a low result means a patient is more susceptible to a possible infection.
The normal range for neutrophils is 40-76%, so numbers that are slightly above or below those percentages may seem scary to those who receive the test results. If there aren’t any issues present that could explain the slightly high results, such as an infection, a hemorrhage, the possibility of gout, or recent surgeries, then the results may be medically insignificant.
Only your doctor can examine your medical history and incorporate the results into a specific diagnosis. A positive result does not necessarily mean that there is something seriously wrong. If you are concerned about the results you received from your Segs blood test, then be sure to schedule an appointment immediately.