Neutrophilia
Adult

Haematology

Useful Management Information

  • Refer to local HealthPathways or local guidelines
  • Patients with high neutrophilia and with high fever/sweats are likely to have an infective cause and urgent referral to Emergency should be considered.
  • Most cases of neutrophilia are reactive and not associated with haematological malignancy. Co-existing persistent, non-reactive monocytosis (monocytes >1.0 x109/L) may be seen in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML). Additionally potential red flags include associated polycythaemia, thrombocytosis, basophilia or leucoerythroblastic blood film which should raise a clinical suspicion of a potential myeloproliferative neoplasm.
  • Isolated mild neutrophilia (Neut 8-15 x 109/L) may commonly be seen in chronic smokers, patients receiving corticosteroids and during pregnancy and if non-progressive and not associated with splenomegaly, or clonality (BCR ABL and JAK2 negative) then may be safely followed up in primary care 3-6 monthly.
  • JAK2 V617F and BCR-ABL testing should be considered as part of a diagnostic work-up under specialist oversight. Please note that these tests may incur costs if not requested in alignment with Medicare criteria.

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Newly diagnosed CML (BCR ABL +ve)
  • Neutrophilia with basophilia (leucoerythroblastic film)
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Neutrophil count > 15 X 10/l
  • JAK2 mutation detected
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • No category 3 criteria

If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria

  • Assessment and management information may be found on a range of conditions at HealthPathways
  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service

Essential Referral Information

  • Serial FBC
  • ESR, CRP
  • E/LFT

Additional Referral Information

  • BCR-ABL & JAK2 V617F testing*
  • Smoking history including cannabis use

*JAK2 V617F and BCR-ABL testing should be considered as part of a diagnostic work-up under specialist oversight. Please note that these tests may incur costs if not requested in alignment with Medicare criteria.

Last updated 18 June 2025

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District

Internal Referrals

Haematology (E-Blueslips)

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Cancer Referrals Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

(07) 5687 2708

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

Service Availability

Dr Rachel Wooldridge
Medical Director Haematology

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

Gold Coast Health - For Clinicians
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