AEC stands for eosinophil count and is measured in a blood report for a number of diseases. People with certain conditions are likely to have high AEC levels. Blood is typically drawn from the veins inside the elbow or the back of the hand. During the process, the site is cleaned with antiseptic. The physician will also record any history of medication, allergies, or other medical conditions.
A higher level of AEC can be a sign of various diseases, including eosinophilia, a condition in which the patient has an excess of eosinophils in their blood. Further testing may be required to determine the cause of a patient’s elevated level. The information provided in this article is not meant to replace medical advice, but to provide a basic understanding of this important test.
AEC is a useful diagnostic tool because it can identify multiple diseases. Hypereosinophilia is characterized by a total number of eosinophils above 1500 cells per microL. It can occur with or without end-organ damage. Identifying the cause is best done through a patient’s history, clinical presentation, and specific laboratory tests. The AEC test alone does not identify the cause. The percentage of eosinophils varies with total WBC count and the proportion of other WBC lineages.
The AEC is a blood test that determines the amount of eosinophils in the blood. These immune cells play a vital role in the body and fight infection and allergic diseases. Eosinophils are produced in the bone marrow and move to the area of infection or organ. They can also identify other medical conditions, including anaphylaxis, as well as help diagnose acute hypereosinophilic syndrome (AEOS).
The absolute eosinophil count (AEC) is a useful diagnostic tool for predicting the need for ICU transfer in elderly patients. Several studies have suggested that COVID-19 patients with low AEC have a high probability of eosinopenia. This finding is important for the early identification of COVID-19 patients in elderly adults. While it is not a foolproof test, the results of the study suggest that AEC may be a reliable predictive marker of ICU transfer.
