Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON) Practice Exam 2025 - Free CPHON Practice Questions and Study Guide

The half-life of neutrophils is typically around 8 hours. This means that after this period, half of the circulating neutrophils have undergone apoptosis or have migrated out of the bloodstream to sites of tissue injury or infection. Neutrophils play a crucial role in the body's immune response, particularly in fighting bacterial infections. Their relatively short half-life allows the body to maintain a responsive immune system that can rapidly adapt to changing conditions such as infections or inflammation.

While neutrophils can exist in circulation for a longer time if they are not activated or if they migrate to tissues, the standard reference for their half-life in the bloodstream is indeed approximately 8 hours. Other cell types, such as lymphocytes, have much longer half-lives, which contributes to their differing roles in the immune response. In clinical practice and pharmacology, understanding the half-life of neutrophils is essential for anticipating their behavior during treatments like chemotherapy, which can suppress neutrophil production and lead to neutropenia.