COUNTIFS() Function with relative references.

Hi,

I have a lengthy spreadsheet that I inherited and am trying to maintain without pulling out my hair.  

I have two columns with the first containing a spec value and the second column containing either an initial measured value or ERR code.  What I want to do is generate a quick look to tell me how many values were out of spec at first measurement.  

I know this isn't right, but it's as close as I've gotten so far:

=COUNTIF(Sheet2!B4:C500, "C$>B$)  + COUNTIF(Sheet2!C4:C500, "*")

As is, it mostly works if I replace the relative reference with some sort of threshhold value, but tolerances are different depending on the line item.

Thanks.