Absolute Basophils
The actual number of basophils per microliter of blood.
| Typical reference range | 0–200 cells/uL |
Ranges vary by laboratory, method, age and sex: always use the range printed on your own report. Why labs differ.
What it measures
Absolute basophils are WBC multiplied by the basophil percentage. Basophils release histamine and contribute to allergic and inflammatory responses.
Why it matters
Basophilia is uncommon; persistent elevation is a recognized clue to myeloproliferative neoplasms such as chronic myeloid leukemia.
What a high result can mean
Mild increases are seen with allergies, hypothyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease and chronic inflammation; marked increases suggest myeloproliferative disorders.
What a low result can mean
Low values are normal and not clinically significant.
What affects the result
Counts are small, so automated analyzers have limited precision; minor fluctuations are rarely meaningful.
Units and conversion
Usually reported in cells/uL.
- From x10E3/uL: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
- From K/uL: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
- From 10^3/uL: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
- From x10^9/L: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
- From 10*3/uL: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
- From Thousand/uL: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
- From x10E9/L: multiply by 1,000 to get cells/uL
Also called on lab reports
Basophils (Absolute), Basophils Absolute, Baso (Absolute), Baso #, Basophils, Absolute, Absolute Basophil Count, Basophils Abs
Related tests: White Blood Cells & Differential
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a healthcare professional.