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Which laboratory test will the nurse use to determine whether filgrastim (Neupogen) is effective for a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia who is receiving chemotherapy?

a. Platelet count
b. Reticulocyte count
c. Total lymphocyte count
d. Absolute neutrophil count

User Will Brown
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

To assess the effectiveness of filgrastim (Neupogen) for a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia on chemotherapy, the nurse would use the absolute neutrophil count (ANC).

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine if filgrastim (Neupogen) is effective for a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) who is receiving chemotherapy, the nurse would use the absolute neutrophil count (ANC). Filgrastim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor which works by stimulating the production of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell important for fighting off infections. Since chemotherapy can result in a reduction of leukocytes, including neutrophils, assessing the absolute neutrophil count helps to ensure that a patient's neutrophil levels remain adequate during treatment. Therefore, the correct answer is (d) Absolute neutrophil count.

User ShibbyUK
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