Basophils · low result
Low basophils: what they mean (nothing to treat)
Short answer
A low basophil count has no medical significance. Basophils normally make up 0–1% of white cells — about 0.0–0.2 × 10³/µL — so the lower limit of the reference range is zero, and a result of 0% or 0 is normal for most people on most CBCs. Cortisol suppresses basophils, so counts fall during acute infection and stress and with corticosteroids; hyperthyroidism, pregnancy and ovulation lower them slightly; and acute allergic reactions can briefly deplete them as they release their histamine. None of this is diagnosed or treated by way of the basophil count, and a low value needs no follow-up.
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed November 2026
When does this result need same-day care?
- A low basophil count is never urgent.
What is the normal range for Basophils?
- age 18+: 0.000 – 2.00 %
Full reference table, citations and testing options: Basophils biomarker page.
What are the common causes of low Basophils?
- Normal variation — the reference range starts at zero, and a differential that counts a few hundred cells will often record none
- Corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone, injected or high-dose inhaled) and the stress response of acute infection, surgery or injury
- Hyperthyroidism
- Acute allergic reactions and hives — basophils degranulate and are briefly cleared from the blood
- Pregnancy, ovulation, and some chemotherapy and marrow-suppressing treatments
- Counting artifact — automated analyzers and manual differentials both struggle to count a cell this rare
What symptoms go with low Basophils?
- None — a low basophil count causes no symptoms and indicates no disease
What do clinicians usually check next?
- Nothing — a low or zero basophil count needs no follow-up
- Read the rest of the CBC as usual; if neutrophils, hemoglobin or platelets are abnormal, those are the results to act on
- If the total white count is also low or you are on a steroid, the explanation is already in hand
- Do not repeat the test for the basophil count itself
How do you recheck Basophils?
Prices are cash-pay; every order adds one $6 lab processing fee. Physician authorization is included; no insurance or referral needed.
| Test or panel | Type | Price | Fasting | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biological Age Panel | Panel · 3 tests | $59.99 | Yes | 1–3 business days |
| General Wellness Panel | Panel · 4 tests | $49.99 | Yes | 1–3 business days |
| Blood Clotting Panel | Panel · 4 tests | $149.99 | No | 3–7 business days |
| CBC with Differential Test | Test · 14 biomarkers | $17.99 | No | 1–3 business days |
Common questions
Is a low basophil count bad?
No. The normal range for basophils starts at zero, so a low or absent count is a normal result. It causes no symptoms and is not linked to any condition that needs treatment.
What does 0% basophils mean?
Nothing on its own. Basophils are so scarce — normally under 1% of white cells — that a differential frequently records none at all. Steroids, stress, infection and hyperthyroidism lower them further, but none of that is acted on through the basophil count.
What causes low basophils?
Normal variation first; then corticosteroids and the stress of acute illness, hyperthyroidism, acute allergic reactions, pregnancy and ovulation. In every case the basophil count is a bystander, not a finding.
Can low basophils indicate hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism does lower basophils slightly, but the effect is too small and too common for other reasons to be useful; TSH is checked because of symptoms, not because of a basophil count.
Should I retest a low basophil count?
No. It will appear on every future CBC and will not change what anyone does. Follow any other abnormal value instead.
Why do labs report basophils at all?
The automated differential reports all five white cell types by default. Basophils matter in one direction only — a persistent, marked increase in a myeloproliferative disorder — and the low end of the range carries no information.
Educational content, not a diagnosis. Lab results are one input; a clinician interprets them with your history and exam.