Do I need a Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio test?
Feeling run down, fighting frequent infections, or noticing inflammation that won't quit? Could hidden immune imbalances be driving your symptoms, and could a simple blood test reveal what's happening beneath the surface?
Your Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) measures the balance between two key immune cells in your blood. It reveals whether your body is dealing with chronic inflammation, infection, or immune stress that might explain why you're not feeling your best.
Testing your NLR gives you a powerful snapshot of your immune health and inflammation levels, helping you understand what's behind your symptoms so you can personalize your lifestyle, nutrition, and wellness strategies to support your body's natural defenses.
Get tested with Superpower
If you’ve been postponing blood testing for years or feel frustrated by doctor appointments and limited lab panels, you are not alone. Standard healthcare is often reactive, focusing on testing only after symptoms appear or leaving patients in the dark.
Superpower flips that approach. We give you full insight into your body with over 100 biomarkers, personalized action plans, long-term tracking, and answers to your questions, so you can stay ahead of any health issues.
With physician-reviewed results, CLIA-certified labs, and the option for at-home blood draws, Superpower is designed for people who want clarity, convenience, and real accountability - all in one place.
Key benefits of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio testing
- Reveals your body's balance between infection-fighting cells and immune regulators.
- Flags hidden inflammation that may drive chronic disease or accelerate aging.
- Helps explain fatigue, recurrent infections, or slow recovery from illness.
- Guides decisions about stress management, sleep, and anti-inflammatory lifestyle changes.
- Tracks whether interventions like diet, exercise, or treatment are lowering inflammation.
- Identifies cardiovascular risk beyond standard cholesterol and blood pressure measures.
- Supports early detection of immune dysregulation in autoimmune or metabolic conditions.
- Best interpreted alongside complete blood count and clinical symptoms for full context.
What is Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio?
The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a calculated marker derived from a standard blood test. It compares the number of neutrophils to lymphocytes, two major types of white blood cells that circulate in your bloodstream. Neutrophils are rapid responders that rush to sites of infection or injury, while lymphocytes coordinate longer-term immune defense and memory.
A window into immune balance
NLR reflects the balance between your body's immediate inflammatory response and its adaptive immune system. A shift in this ratio signals how your immune system is currently deployed.
Why inflammation and immunity matter together
When the body faces stress, infection, or chronic disease, neutrophil numbers often rise while lymphocyte counts may drop. This creates an elevated ratio that mirrors the intensity of systemic inflammation or immune activation.
A simple calculation with broad insight
Because NLR integrates two opposing arms of immunity into one number, it offers a snapshot of immune tone. It has emerged as a useful marker in cardiovascular disease, cancer, autoimmune conditions, and metabolic health, where inflammation plays a central role.
Why is Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio important?
The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a simple calculation from a standard blood count that reveals the balance between two arms of your immune system: the rapid-response neutrophils that fight acute infection and the lymphocytes that coordinate longer-term immunity and regulate inflammation. This ratio offers a window into systemic inflammation, immune resilience, and metabolic stress. A typical NLR ranges from 1 to 3, with values closer to 1 or 2 generally reflecting a calm, well-regulated immune state.
When the ratio drops below normal
A low NLR suggests lymphocytes outnumber neutrophils, which can occur with viral infections, certain autoimmune conditions, or bone marrow suppression. It may signal that the body is mounting a lymphocyte-driven immune response or that neutrophil production is impaired. Symptoms are often subtle but may include fatigue or recurrent infections if immune function is compromised.
When the ratio climbs above normal
An elevated NLR indicates neutrophil dominance, a hallmark of systemic inflammation, bacterial infection, physical stress, or chronic disease. Higher ratios are linked to cardiovascular risk, metabolic syndrome, and poorer outcomes in cancer and critical illness. You might experience fatigue, malaise, or signs of the underlying inflammatory process.
The bigger immune and metabolic picture
NLR connects innate and adaptive immunity, reflecting how your body responds to stressors from infection to aging. Persistently high ratios correlate with accelerated vascular aging, insulin resistance, and increased mortality risk across populations.
What do my Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio results mean?
Low neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio
Low values usually reflect a lymphocyte-dominant immune profile, which can occur during recovery from acute infection, in certain chronic viral states, or with bone marrow conditions that suppress neutrophil production. Very low ratios may also appear in autoimmune disorders or after use of medications that affect white blood cell populations.
Optimal neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio
Being in range suggests a balanced immune response with neither excessive inflammation nor immune suppression. Most healthy adults maintain a ratio between 1 and 3, with values toward the lower end of this range generally associated with lower systemic inflammation and better metabolic and cardiovascular health over time.
High neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio
High values usually reflect systemic inflammation, physiologic stress, or immune activation. Neutrophils rise in response to bacterial infection, tissue injury, or metabolic stress, while lymphocytes may drop during acute illness or chronic stress states. Persistently elevated ratios are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, insulin resistance, and poorer outcomes in critical illness and cancer.
Factors that influence neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio
This ratio shifts with acute illness, surgery, physical or emotional stress, pregnancy, and aging. It rises transiently after intense exercise and can be influenced by corticosteroids and other immune-modulating medications. Interpretation should always consider clinical context and trends over time rather than isolated values.
Method: Derived from FDA-cleared laboratory results. This ratio/index is not an FDA-cleared test. It aids clinician-directed risk assessment and monitoring and is not a stand-alone diagnosis. Inputs: neutrophils, lymphocytes.

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