Basophilic granulocytes are cellular components of the blood. They are a subset of leukocytes (white blood cells) that have basophilic vesicles in their cytoplasm (total living contents of a cell).
They are considered part of the nonspecific cellular immune system.
Basophilic granulocytes are determined as part of the differentiation of leukocytes (see “Differential Blood Count” below).
The procedure
Material needed
- 4 ml EDTA blood (mix well!); for children, at least 0.25 ml.
Preparation of the patient
- Not necessary
Disruptive factors
- None known
Indications
- Infections
- Malignant (malignant) neoplasms
Normal values
| Age | Absolute values | Percentage(of total leukocyte count) |
| Infants | 0-300/μl | 0-2 % |
| Children | 0-120/μl | 0-1 % |
| Adults* | 15-50/μl | 0-1% |
Interpretation
Interpretation of elevated values (basophilia).
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) – malignant neoplasm of the hematopoietic system (hemoblastosis) occurring mainly in middle age.
- Polycythaemia vera (PV), benign familial polycythemia; erythropoietic stem cell disorder; autonomous proliferation of the three cell series.
