DaVita lab reports neutrophils as which term?

• A. PMN
• B. WBC
• C. Lymphocytes
• D. Platelets

Answer: (A)

Labs use PMN to denote neutrophils because PMN stands for polymorphonuclear leukocytes, the class of white blood cells that neutrophils belong to. Neutrophils have a multi-lobed nucleus, which is the hallmark described by the term polymorphonuclear, and the shorthand PMN is a quick way for labs to specify this specific cell type in a differential. So DaVita lab reports neutrophils as PMN to clearly identify them among white blood cells. The other terms describe different things: WBC is the total white blood cell count, lymphocytes are another distinct type of white blood cell, and platelets are not white blood cells at all.