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Basophils

Basophils: normal range, measurement method and the effect of corticosteroids

Q: Do corticosteroids lower the basophil count?

Yes, corticosteroids lower the basophil count. In a study of 11 people with an allergic tendency the count fell by 72 percent after intravenous corticosteroids, and a fall was also seen in healthy people.

Q: Which limits do laboratories use for basophils?

For basophils, Star-SHL uses 0.0 to 0.15 × 10^9/l, Unilabs an upper limit of 0.2 × 10^9/l from age 15, Certe 0 to 0.2 × 10^9/l for adults and Diagnostiek voor U an upper limit of 0.2 × 10^9/l.

Histamine, a substance that promotes allergic reactions, comes in the blood mainly from basophils: white blood cells that take part in allergic reactions.

Myeloid neoplasms, blood cancers that arise in the bone marrow, can come with a raised basophil count, as can allergic conditions and inflammatory conditions. Only a blood test shows whether the count deviates.

The upper limit for basophils is 0.15 × 10^9/l at Star-SHL, which starts at 0.0, and 0.2 × 10^9/l at Unilabs from age 15, Certe for adults and Diagnostiek voor U. A low count is to be expected after corticosteroids are given, and that weighs in when reading the result.

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

See the value that applies to you:

Choose male or female — this range differs by sex.

Enter your age — this range changes with age.

This range also depends on context such as cycle phase or sample material; the highlighted rows apply to your group.

Male Your group

10^9/l

Low 0 Normal 0.2 High

Female Your group

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
Laboratory	Group	Reference value (10^9/l)	Relative scale
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
Certe	· Female · 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

Expressed in billions of cells per litre of blood (× 10^9/l), the basophil count comes from the white cell differential, in which the white blood cells are divided over five types. Star-SHL counts them with an optical flow-cell measurement combined with fluorescence and Unilabs with fluorescence flow cytometry.

When the differential is abnormal, Star-SHL looks at the blood under the microscope according to its own test listing; Unilabs lists a manual differential as a separate test next to the automated count.

Basophils: why this value matters

Corticosteroids lower the basophil count: according to a review, a fall after steroids are given is a consistent effect, so a low count is to be expected in that situation.

According to the same review, the basophil count fell not only in people with an allergic tendency, but also when healthy people were given corticosteroids.

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?

According to the NVKC, basophils are always counted within a full blood test; after corticosteroids are given, that count can come out lower, because those drugs lower the count.

Basophils: symptoms of a high or low value

Low Levels

A low basophil count can result from the administration of corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory medicines. A review describes a study by Dunsky and colleagues of 11 people with an allergic tendency, in which the basophil count fell by 72 percent after intravenous corticosteroids. A low count stays within the limits, because Star-SHL and Certe start their adult range at zero and Unilabs and Diagnostiek voor U state only an upper limit.

High Levels

In myeloid neoplasms, blood cancers that arise in the bone marrow, a raised basophil count is a key phenomenon according to a review, and for chronic myeloid leukaemia it is a diagnostic criterion.

For that reason, take a raised basophil count to a doctor.

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

When reading a basophil result, note whether you were given corticosteroids, how you were given them, for example by drip, and when the last dose was. Those details help to interpret a low count, because corticosteroids lower the basophil count.

Basophils: frequently asked questions

Do corticosteroids lower the basophil count?

Yes, corticosteroids lower the basophil count. In a study of 11 people with an allergic tendency the count fell by 72 percent after intravenous corticosteroids, and a fall was also seen in healthy people.

Which limits do laboratories use for basophils?

For basophils, Star-SHL uses 0.0 to 0.15 × 10^9/l, Unilabs an upper limit of 0.2 × 10^9/l from age 15, Certe 0 to 0.2 × 10^9/l for adults and Diagnostiek voor U an upper limit of 0.2 × 10^9/l.

Basophils: sources

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
Star-shl, Labbepalingen (referentiewaarden per bepaling), star-shl.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) star-shl.nl
Certe, Bepalingenwijzer (referentiewaarden per bepaling), bepalingenwijzer.certe.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) bepalingenwijzer.certe.nl
Diagnostiek voor U, eLabgids (Referentiewaarden DvU), diagnostiek.getincontrol.eu, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) diagnostiek.getincontrol.eu
Unilabs, Bepalingenklapper (referentiewaarden per bepaling), bepalingenklapper.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) bepalingenklapper.nl
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
Riley LK, Rupert J. Evaluation of Patients with Leukocytosis. Am Fam Physician 2015;92(11):1004-1011 (retrieved 2026) aafp.org
NVKC, Alles over testen: Basofiele granulocyten, allesovertesten.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-07 (retrieved 2026) allesovertesten.nl

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