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Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR)
All NiaHealth tests are processed in Canadian-certified labs, which are highly trusted by the medical community for their accuracy and reliability. Blood and urine samples are collected by licensed medical professionals and processed using state-of-the-art equipment. NiaHealth is SOC2 Type 2 certified.
What is it?
The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is calculated using two types of white blood cells measured in a standard complete blood count. Neutrophils are part of the body’s immediate immune response, while lymphocytes play a key role in the longer-term adaptive immune response. The ratio between these two cell types provides insight into the balance of immune system activity.
Why it matters
During inflammation or physiological stress, neutrophil levels tend to rise while lymphocyte levels may decrease, causing the NLR to increase. Higher NLR values have been associated with increased inflammatory burden and have been linked in research to cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and higher mortality risk in some populations. NLR is most useful when interpreted together with other inflammatory biomarkers rather than on its own.
Reference ranges
Higher NLR levels may reflect systemic inflammation, infection, physiological stress, poor metabolic health, smoking, sleep disturbance, or other health conditions. Because NLR can change quickly, results should always be interpreted in the context of other biomarkers and overall health status.
This information is educational and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your results should be interpreted with a qualified healthcare professional in the context of your health history.
