Indicator Explainer
Lymphocyte
White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each); those with characteristics of neither major class are called null cells.
This page explains what the indicator is and how results are interpreted in general terms. Reference ranges depend on the laboratory, the method, and your own situation — no single “normal value” applies to everyone. This page is health information, not a diagnosis. For symptoms, treatment, or urgent concerns, contact a healthcare professional.
When it is tested
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C12535. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Reading results
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.
Also Known As
References
- NCI Thesaurus 26.09d — Lymphocyte (C12535)
- Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C12535. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
- A pilot prospective cohort study: Changes in circulating T-lymphocyte subsets during steroid therapy in patients with nephrotic syndrome. — J Int Med Res, 2026-10-08 (PMID 42850689; literature)
- Performance Characteristics for Flow Cytometric Enumeration of Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Subsets under Harmonized Laboratory Conditions: A Multicenter Study. — Transl Res, 2026-10-08 (PMID 42849832; literature)