🦠 Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR)
Calculate the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a simple inflammatory marker.
Clinical takeaway
Non-specific — rises with infection, stress and malignancy.
Loading calculator…
Paste the link in Slack, Teams, X, or LinkedIn — the preview image comes from this page’s Open Graph card.
When to use
Gauge physiological stress/inflammation and prognosis.
How it works
NLR = absolute neutrophils ÷ absolute lymphocytes. Normal ~1–3.
Key points
- Non-specific — rises with infection, stress and malignancy.
- Has prognostic value across many conditions.
- Interpret in clinical context.
References
Decision support for licensed clinicians only; not a substitute for clinical judgement, diagnosis or local protocols.
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Absolute neutrophils | 6.0 ×10⁹/L |
|---|---|
| Absolute lymphocytes | 2.0 ×10⁹/L |
→NLR3.0
- Interpretation：Mildly elevated — inflammation/stress.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR)?
- Calculate the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a simple inflammatory marker.
- How is Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) calculated? What is the core formula?
- NLR = absolute neutrophils ÷ absolute lymphocytes. Normal ~1–3.
- When is Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) used?
- Gauge physiological stress/inflammation and prognosis.
- What are the key clinical points for Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR)?
- Non-specific — rises with infection, stress and malignancy. Has prognostic value across many conditions. Interpret in clinical context.
- What are the limits and cautions when using Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR)?
- For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
- How is Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Absolute neutrophils 6.0 ×10⁹/L, Absolute lymphocytes 2.0 ×10⁹/L → Result: NLR 3.0（Interpretation: Mildly elevated — inflammation/stress.）