Left shift
Chapter: 2
A change in the leukogram that denotes an absolute increase in the number of immature neutrophils that are found in the circulation. The nuclei of such cells have fewer lobes, because lobation develops as the cells mature. A left shift indicates that neutrophils are being called forth from the bone marrow faster than they can mature. This usually signifies a serious inflammatory drain on their production. A degenerative left shift is similar, except that the absolute number of neutrophils in the circulation is decreased, indicating inability of the bone marrow to keep up with the demand. This is a seriously negative laboratory finding. A right shift, a term that is rarely used, denotes hypersegmentation of the neutrophil population. Possibly indicating that circulationg neutrophils are remaining for the circulation longer than normal.