Basophil Count (Blood)

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Community Anatomic Pathology Service (APS)

Test Guide

Basophil Count (Blood)

Department

Haematology

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

AAAA

Test Code (Numeric Code)

0000

Laboratory Handling

Sample Stability

FBC analysis should occur within 6 hours of collection but may be processed up to 24 hours post collection if the sample is refrigerated at 4 degrees C. The reported basophil count may be from the automated haematology analyser or from microscopic examination and manual white cell differential. The peripheral blood film smear should ideally be prepared within 4 hours of collection. The blood film can be made up to 24 hours after collection if the FBC is stored at 4 degrees C.

Associated Tests

Synonyms

FBC, CBC

Turnaround Time

1 hour

Available 24 hours

Specimen Type

Whole Blood

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

EDTA (Lavender Cap)

Acceptable

EDTA (Microtainer)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

0.5

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

EDTA (Lavender Cap)

Acceptable

EDTA (Microtainer)

Additional Specimen Information

For neonates minimum - 200 µL (but 300 µL needed if reticulocyte count required)

Diagnostic Use

Basophils are the least frequent of the 5 types of normal white cells in peripheral blood , constituting less than 1% of circulating white cells. They last from a few hours to several days. Basophils are involved in immune responses, especially allergic reactions and parasitic infections. Increased basophils may also be seen in myeloproliferative disorders. Basophil counts are part of the white cell differential obtained from the Full Blood Count.

Interpretation

In the laboratory, basophils are differentiated from other leucocytes in by their ability to resist penetration by Lysercell in the WNR channel of Symex XN analysers. Basophils are slightly smaller than neutrophils and are characterised by many large dark staining granules which overlie the multilobed nucleus in Romanovsky stained slides.

Basophil Function
Basophils are attracted to micro-organisms or sites of inflammation due to the release of chemotactic substances. Phagocytosis then occurs and the micro-organism is surrounded by membrane and fused with a primary lysosome. This phagosome is then attacked by bactericidal proteins and hydrolytic enzymes.
Basophils release histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes to promote inflammation and have attachment sites for IgE coated antigens. When basophils enter the tissues they are known as mast cells.

Causes of a raised basophil count (basophilia):
Inflammation – Myxoedema, ulcertive colitis, hypersensitivity states.
Drugs – IL-23
Haematologic – Myeloproliferative/leukaemic disorders (especially CGL)

Reference Intervals

		CORD	1 DAY	2 DAYS	1 WEEK	2 WEEK	1 MONTH	2 MONTHS	4 MONTHS
RBC	x 10¹²/L	3.5 – 5.5	3.5 – 6.0	3.5 – 6.0	3.2 – 6.4	3.1 – 6.0	2.9 – 4.8	3.3 – 4.8	4.0 – 5.3
HB	g/L	124 – 192	145 – 225	152 – 228	135 – 215	125 – 205	93 – 158	97 – 130	105 – 136
HCT		0.37 – 0.56	0.45 – 0.67	0.45 – 0.67	0.42 – 0.66	0.40 – 0.72	0.27 – 0.46	0.29 – 0.38	0.31 – 0.40
MCV	fL	99 – 119	99 – 119	98 – 121	90 – 126	88 – 122	89 – 100	72 – 91	69 – 84
MCH	pg	32 – 39	31 – 37	30 – 38	28 – 40	28 – 40	28 – 34	24 – 32	22 – 29
MCHC		305 – 345	320 – 360	320 – 360	320 – 360	320 – 360	324 – 364	323 – 361	315 – 353
RDW		15.2 – 19.0	14.5 – 18.5	14.5 – 18.5	14.5 – 18.5	14.5 – 18.5	13.2 – 17.5	11.9 – 16.2	12.0 – 16.0
PLATS.	x 10⁹/L	150 – 400	150 – 400	150 – 400	150 – 400	150 – 400	150 – 650	150 – 650	150 – 575
MPV	fL	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2
WBC	x 10⁹/L	7.3 – 25.8	8.0 – 25.0	8.0 – 25.0	8.0 – 25.0	5.0 – 20.0	5.8 – 13.0	6.6 – 15.0	6.4 – 17.0
BAND N	x 10⁹/L	0.0 – 2.0	0.0 – 2.0	0.0 – 2.0	0.0 – 0.6	0.0 – 0.6	0.0 – 0.6	0.0 – 0.6	0.0 – 0.6
NEUTS	x 10⁹/L	3.1 – 12.0	5.0 – 21.0	1.5 – 9.5	1.5 – 9.5	1.5 – 9.5	0.5 – 3.9	0.8 – 4.7	0.9 – 5.9
LYMPHS	x 10⁹/L	2.0 – 7.3	2.0 – 11.5	2.0 – 11.5	2.0 – 17.0	2.0 – 17.0	3.7 – 8.0	4.2 – 10.6	3.5 – 11.5
MONOS	x 10⁹/L	0.3 – 2.6	0.0 – 2.0	0.0 – 2.0	0.0 – 2.0	0.0 – 2.0	0.5 – 1.5	0.4 – 1.3	0.3 – 1.5
EOS	x 10⁹/L	0.0 – 1.2	0.0 – 1.0	0.0 – 1.0	0.0 – 0.7	0.0 – 0.7	0.0 – 0.9	0.0 – 0.9	0.0 – 0.9
BASOS	x 10⁹/L	0.0 – 0.3	0.0 – 0.2	0.0 – 0.2	0.0 – 0.2	0.0 – 0.2	0.0 – 0.2	0.0 – 0.2	0.0 – 0.2
RETICS	x 10⁹/L	10 – 250	10 – 250	10 – 150	10 – 100	10 – 100	10 – 100		10 – 100

								10 – 100

		1 YEAR	4 YEARS	8 YEARS	13 YEARS	13 YEARS	ADULT MALE	ADULT FEMALE	PREGNANT

					MALE	FEMALE
RBC	x 10¹²/L	4.0 – 5.4	4.1 – 5.4	4.2 – 5.6	4.4 – 5.7	4.0 – 5.35	4.3 – 6.0	3.6 – 5.6	3.6 – 5.6
HB	g/L	105 – 140	113 – 145	115 – 145	125- 160	115- 150	130 – 175	115 – 155	115 – 155
HCT		0.32- 0.41	0.33- 0.42	0.35- 0.43	0.37- 0.47	0.35- 0.44	0.40 – 0.52	0.35 – 0.46	0.35 – 0.46
MCV	fL	70 – 86	74 – 87	75 – 90	78- 93	78 – 93	80 – 99	80 – 99	80 – 99
MCH	pg	23 – 29	24 – 29	24 – 30	25 – 31	25 – 31	27 – 33	27 – 33	27 – 33
MCHC		317 – 353	319 – 353	315 – 350	315 – 350	315 – 350	320 – 360	320 – 360	320 – 360
RDW		12.0 – 15.5	12.0 – 14.5	12.0 – 14.5	12.0 – 15.0	12.0 – 15.0	11.5 – 15.0	11.5 – 15.0	11.5 – 15.0
PLATS.	x 10⁹/L	150 – 500	150 – 475	150 – 425	150 – 400	150 – 400	150 – 400	150 – 400	150 – 400
MPV	fL	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2	9.0 – 12.2
WBC	x 10⁹/L	5.0 – 14.5	4.5 – 12.0	4.3 – 12.0	4.2 – 10.0	4.2 – 10.0	4.0 – 11.0	4.0 – 11.0	5.0 – 14.5
IMMATURE GRANs	x 10⁹/L	0 – 0.06	0 – 0.06	0 – 0.06	0 – 0.06	0 – 0.06	0 – 0.06	0 – 0.06	0 – 0.06

BAND N		0.0 – 0.6	0.0 – 0.6	0.0 – 0.6	0.0 – 0.6	0.0 – 0.6	0.0 – 0.6	0.0 – 0.6	0.0 – 0.6
NEUTS	x 10⁹/L	1.0 – 7.0	1.5 – 8.0	1.5 – 7.0	1.8 – 7.0	1.8 – 7.0	1.9 – 7.5	1.9 – 7.5	1.9 – 11.0
LYMPHS	x 10⁹/L	2.0 – 8.0	1.4 – 5.7	1.4 – 4.5	1.4 – 4.0	1.4- 4.0	1.0 – 4.0	1.0 – 4.0	1.0 – 4.0
MONO	x 10⁹/L	0.3 – 1.3	0.3 – 1.0	0.3- 0.9	0.3 – 0.9	0.3 – 0.9	0.2 – 1.0	0.2 – 1.0	0.2 – 1.0
EOS	x 10⁹/L	0.0 – 0.9	0.0 – 1.0	0.0 – 0.9	0.0 – 0.8	0.0 – 0.8	0.0 – 0.5	0.0 – 0.5	0.0 – 0.5
BASOS	x 10⁹/L	0.0 – 0.2	0.0 – 0.2	0.0 – 0.2	0.0 – 0.2	0.0 – 0.2	0.0 – 0.2	0.0 – 0.2	0.0 – 0.2
RETICS	x 10⁹/L	10 – 100	10 – 100	10 – 100	10 – 100	10 – 100	10 – 100	10 – 100	10 – 100

Uncertainty of Measurement

Last updated: 13/05/2026

Department

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

Test Code (Numeric Code)

Laboratory Handling

Sample Stability

Associated Tests

Synonyms

Turnaround Time

Specimen Type

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Additional Specimen Information

Diagnostic Use

Interpretation

Reference Intervals

Uncertainty of Measurement

Additional Costing Information

Contact Information

Enquiry Form

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Basophil Count (Blood)

Overview

Department

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

Test Code (Numeric Code)

Laboratory Handling

Sample Stability

Associated Tests

Synonyms

Turnaround Time

Specimen

Specimen Type

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

Acceptable

Additional Specimen Information

Referral

Clinical Information/Test Method

Diagnostic Use

Interpretation

Reference Intervals

Uncertainty of Measurement

Price

Additional Costing Information

Contact Information

Contact Information

Enquiry Form

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