Choose the INCORRECT option:

SGPGI Nursing Officer-2023

Pathology & Genetics

Easy

Appeared in: SGPGI Nursing Officer-2023

Explanation

The option stating that the normal range for basophils is 11–15% is incorrect.
Basophils are the least abundant type of white blood cell, constituting only 0-1% of the total count according to standard hematology references.
A basophil count of 11-15% represents marked basophilia, a significant pathological finding, not a normal range.
The other options provide ranges for neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils that fall within their accepted normal physiological limits.

Option A: This statement is correct. The normal range for neutrophils is typically between 50% and 70% of the total WBC count, making them the most abundant type.
Option B: This statement is correct. The normal range for lymphocytes is generally accepted as 20% to 40% of the total WBC count.
Option C: This statement is correct. The normal range for eosinophils is approximately 1% to 6% of the total WBC count.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Normal Differential Leukocyte Count (DLC) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding normal DLC values is fundamental for nurses to interpret lab reports and identify potential signs of infection, inflammation, allergies, or hematological disorders.
An elevated basophil count (basophilia) is clinically significant and can be associated with myeloproliferative disorders like Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), hypothyroidism, or certain allergic states.
A nurse observing a basophil count of 11-15% on a patient's lab report should recognize it as a critical value and ensure it is promptly brought to the attention of the physician for further investigation.

How to Approach the Question

First, carefully read the question and note the keyword 'INCORRECT'. This means you are looking for the false statement among the options.
The question is about the normal percentage ranges of different white blood cells (WBCs). This requires recalling factual knowledge from hematology.
Recall the mnemonic 'Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas' to remember the order of abundance: Neutrophils > Lymphocytes > Monocytes > Eosinophils > Basophils.
Evaluate each option based on this order. Basophils are the least common, so a high percentage like 11-15% should immediately seem suspicious.
Compare the given percentages to the known normal ranges: Neutrophils (50-70%), Lymphocytes (20-40%), Eosinophils (1-6%), and Basophils (<1%).
Identify that the range for basophils (11-15%) is far outside its normal range of less than 1%, making it the incorrect statement and thus the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 494-496

E6 Physiology Essentials Sembulingam 10e Part 1 p. 111-113

E6 Anatomy Applied Ashalatha 4e p. 154-156