ALC
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Absolute lymphocyte count |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical |
ALC has two meanings. It stands for Absolute lymphocyte count (laboratory test) or Alternate level of care (hospital).
Meanings of ALC at a glance
| # | ALC stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Absolute lymphocyte count | Medical › Laboratory Test |
| 2 | Alternate level of care | Medical › Hospital |
1. Absolute lymphocyte count
Medical · Laboratory Test Abbreviations
Number of lymphocytes per microliter, derived from the WBC and the lymphocyte percentage on the differential. Adults typically have about 1,000 to 4,800 per microliter; low counts follow steroids, HIV, chemotherapy and severe infection, while high counts occur in viral illness and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Example: ALC 620 after the steroid burst; will recheck once prednisone is tapered.
A sustained count of at least 5,000 clonal B lymphocytes per microliter in an adult is one diagnostic criterion for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, confirmed by flow cytometry. Lymphopenia was widely reported as a marker of severe disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ALC differs from the CD4 count, which measures a single lymphocyte subset.
2. Alternate level of care
Medical · Hospital Abbreviations
Canadian hospital designation for patients who occupy an acute care bed but no longer need acute care, typically while waiting for a long-term care home, rehabilitation or home support. ALC patients are tracked closely because they reduce bed capacity.
Example: Designated ALC day 12, awaiting LTC placement; daily mobility to prevent decline.
ALC rates are a major indicator of hospital crowding in Ontario and other provinces. Long ALC stays expose older patients to deconditioning and hospital-acquired complications. In laboratory medicine ALC means absolute lymphocyte count.
Related abbreviations
More laboratory test abbreviations
- ACT – Activated clotting time
- AFB – Acid-fast bacilli
- AG – Anion gap
- Alb – Albumin
- ALP – Alkaline phosphatase
- ALT – Alanine aminotransferase
- ANA – Antinuclear antibody
- ANC – Absolute neutrophil count
See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →
More hospital abbreviations
- ADC – Average daily census
- ADON – Assistant director of nursing
- AIIR – Airborne infection isolation room
- ALF – Assisted living facility
- ALOS – Average length of stay
- AMC – Academic medical center
- AOD – Administrator on duty
- ASC – Ambulatory surgery center
See all 89 hospital abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.