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Adult or child:
Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and a tourniquet (an elastic band) or blood pressure cuff is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the tourniquet to distend (fill with blood). A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the tourniquet is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.

Infant or young child:
The area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.

In the laboratory the blood is placed on a microscope slide and stained. Eosinophils will show granules that are an orange-red color. The number of eosinophil cells in a given area per 100 cells is counted. The percentage of eosinophils is multiplied by the WBC count to give the absolute eosinophil count.

How to Prepare for the Test

Adults:
No special preparation is necessary.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experiences, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:

infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)

toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)

preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)

schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)

adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

Why the Test is Performed

Eosinophils are white blood cells active in allergic diseases, fighting parasitic infections, and other disorders. An eosinophil count may be ordered if the blood differential is abnormal, or if there is suspicion for specific types of diseases.

The eosinophil count may assist in:

detection of allergic reaction and assess the severity

detection of parasitic infection

Hodgkin's disease evaluation

assessment for sensitivity to drugs (particularly some anticoagulants)

confirmation of acute hypereosinophilic syndrome (rare but sometimes fatal leukemia-like condition)

Ency. home > Test > E > Eosinophil count - absolute

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