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Hematology

Basophils too high: what a raised count can mean

Basophils are a kind of white blood cell that releases substances such as histamine in allergic reactions. They are also a marker in myeloid neoplasms, forms of blood cancer that start in the bone marrow: in chronic myeloid leukaemia a raised count is one of the criteria for the diagnosis. According to the NVKC they normally make up 0 to 2 percent of the white blood cells.

A raised basophil count is called basophilia and can also occur with allergic and inflammatory conditions, while the count can fall after corticosteroids are given. Only a blood test shows whether the basophil count is outside the range.

The upper limit for basophils is 0.15 × 10^9/l at Star-SHL and 0.2 × 10^9/l at Unilabs (from age 15), Certe (adults) and Diagnostiek voor U. A rise without other abnormalities is rare according to a US review.

Doctor's Assessment Included

Basophils are one of the five types of white blood cell, normally 0 to 2 percent of the total according to the NVKC. The upper limit for adults is 0.15 × 10^9/l at Star-SHL and 0.2 × 10^9/l at Unilabs, Certe and Diagnostiek voor U.

  • Basophils take part in allergic reactions and, according to the NVKC, occur mainly in tissues where those take place, such as skin, nose and lungs; their number in the bloodstream therefore says little about those allergic reactions.
  • A raised basophil count can occur with allergic and inflammatory conditions and with some forms of leukaemia.
  • For adults, a low basophil count falls within the range at Star-SHL, Unilabs, Certe and Diagnostiek voor U, because their lower limit is zero or absent.

Reference Ranges

Male
10^9/l
Low 0 Normal 0.2 High

Source: NVKC — Nederlandse Vereniging voor Klinische Chemie en Laboratoriumgeneeskunde Reference population: Adults (NVKC)

Reference ranges may vary between laboratories. When you order a test, a BIG-registered doctor assesses your personal results in context. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.

Check your own value

Basophils: what Dutch laboratories use

Reference ranges by group, in 10^9/l
Star-shl · Everyone 0.00–0.15 10^9/l
0 0.15
Unilabs · Everyone · 15 years and older · a limit, not a range < 0.2 10^9/l
0.2
Certe · Male · 18 years and older 0.0–0.2 10*9/L
0 0.2
Diagnostiek voor U · Everyone · a limit, not a range < 0.2 /nL
0.2
0 0.22 10^9/l

Source: Star-shl

Source: Unilabs

Source: Certe

Source: Diagnostiek voor U

Each value as the laboratory itself publishes it, retrieved in 2026.

Basophils: what this test measures

In a full blood test, the white cell differential, the split of the white blood cells over five types, gives the basophil count per litre of blood, expressed in billions (× 10^9/l).

Basophils: why this value matters

A raised basophil count is a known phenomenon in myeloid neoplasms, forms of blood cancer that start in the bone marrow. In chronic myeloid leukaemia, basophilia, a raised basophil count, is even one of the criteria for the diagnosis, and according to a review the most common blood count abnormality in all phases of that disease.

According to the NVKC, a raised count can also occur after exposure to toxic substances or radiation.

Basophils: how the blood test works

Referral
No GP referral needed. After the order we arrange the referral through ZorgDomein, within one business day; orders after 17:00 or at the weekend start on the next business day. ZorgDomein emails a barcode, and that barcode is what the draw site needs.
The draw
A blood draw from a vein in the arm, at a partner laboratory's draw site. No home kit, no finger prick.
Where
650+ draw sites run by independent laboratories across the Netherlands. Draw sites

Basophils: when is testing worthwhile?

A basophil count, according to the NVKC, always forms part of a full blood test.

When the basophil count is raised, have a doctor assess the whole blood picture.

Basophils: symptoms of a high or low value

Low Levels

A truly lowered basophil count is rare according to a review and is seen, among other things, after corticosteroids are given. Star-SHL and Certe count from zero for adults, and Unilabs and Diagnostiek voor U give no lower limit.

High Levels

A raised basophil count, called basophilia, counts as a diagnostic criterion for chronic myeloid leukaemia, a blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow, according to a review. A review in Mayo Clinic Proceedings calls basophilia in the blood an extremely rare condition that suggests chronic basophilic leukaemia. According to that review, such a finding requires a bone marrow examination and a prompt consultation with a haematologist, a specialist in blood diseases.

See a doctor with a raised count, even without symptoms.

Basophils: causes of a low or high value

What lowers the value

  • Corticosteroids

    A fall in the basophil count is consistently observed after corticosteroids are given.

  • Active chronic hives

    In chronic hives the basophil count is reduced during active phases and recovers when the hives are under control.

  • Active lupus (SLE)

    In active lupus (SLE), an autoimmune disease, a low basophil count is a hallmark according to a review.

What raises the value

  • Allergy

    According to a US review, a raised basophil count can occur with allergic conditions, although a rise without other abnormalities is rare.

  • Inflammatory conditions

    According to a US review, the basophil count can be raised with inflammatory conditions, although an isolated rise is rare.

  • Leukaemia

    According to the NVKC, a raised basophil count can result from some forms of leukaemia, such as chronic and acute myeloid leukaemia, often together with more eosinophils.

  • Toxic substances

    According to the NVKC, the number of basophils in the blood can be raised after exposure to toxic substances.

  • Radiation

    According to the NVKC, the number of basophils in the blood can be raised after exposure to radiation.

Basophils: lifestyle and this value

Read a raised basophil count together with the rest of the white cell differential, the split of the white blood cells over five types, and with the leukocytes.

Pay attention to the eosinophils, another type of white blood cell: according to the NVKC, in leukaemia with a raised basophil count the eosinophil count is often raised too.

Basophils: frequently asked questions

What does a high basophil count mean?

A high basophil count is called basophilia and can fit myeloid neoplasms, forms of blood cancer that start in the bone marrow such as chronic myeloid leukaemia, but also allergic and inflammatory conditions. Without other abnormalities it is rare according to a US review; discuss a rise with a doctor.

How high can basophils be?

Basophils can be up to 0.15 × 10^9/l at Star-SHL; Unilabs from age 15, Certe for adults and Diagnostiek voor U with no age given use 0.2 × 10^9/l.

Do raised basophils point to leukaemia?

Raised basophils can, according to the NVKC, result from various types of leukaemia, and in chronic myeloid leukaemia they are among the criteria for the diagnosis. A raised count can also occur with allergy or inflammation, so have the whole blood picture assessed by a doctor.

Basophils: sources

  1. Nederlandse Vereniging voor Klinische Chemie en Laboratoriumgeneeskunde. Basofiele granulocyten. "Normaal bedraagt het percentage basofiele granulocyten slechts 0% -2% van het totaal aantal witte bloedcellen. Dit komt overeen met een hoeveelheid van 0 - 0,2x10ˆ9 cellen per liter." De bron maakt geen onderscheid tussen mannen en vrouwen en geeft geen leeftijdsindeling. Geraadpleegd 14 augustus 2026. (retrieved 2026) allesovertesten.nl
  2. Star-shl, Labbepalingen (referentiewaarden per bepaling), star-shl.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) star-shl.nl
  3. Certe, Bepalingenwijzer (referentiewaarden per bepaling), bepalingenwijzer.certe.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) bepalingenwijzer.certe.nl
  4. Diagnostiek voor U, eLabgids (Referentiewaarden DvU), diagnostiek.getincontrol.eu, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) diagnostiek.getincontrol.eu
  5. Unilabs, Bepalingenklapper (referentiewaarden per bepaling), bepalingenklapper.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) bepalingenklapper.nl
  6. Shah H, Eisenbarth S, Tormey CA, Siddon AJ. Behind the scenes with basophils: an emerging therapeutic target. Immunother Adv 2021;1(1):ltab008 (retrieved 2026) pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  7. Riley LK, Rupert J. Evaluation of Patients with Leukocytosis. Am Fam Physician 2015;92(11):1004-1011 (retrieved 2026) aafp.org
  8. NVKC, Alles over testen: Basofiele granulocyten, allesovertesten.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-07 (retrieved 2026) allesovertesten.nl

Tests with related values

These panels measure values from the same category as this marker.

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