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Eosinophils blood test

In short

A typical adult eosinophils result is 0.03 to 0.48 x10^3/µL. A mildly high count is common and most often linked to allergies, asthma or eczema. Higher counts, or counts that stay high, are worth looking into. Always read your result against the range printed on your own report.

White blood cells involved in allergies and fighting parasites.

Eosinophils are white cells that take part in allergic reactions and fight parasites, such as worms. They are usually a small share of all white cells. Allergies, asthma and eczema (an itchy skin condition) are the most common reasons for a rise.

Is my Eosinophils high or low?

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Typical range

ForRangeUnit
Adults0.03–0.48x10^3/µL
Adults · percent of white cells0–4%

Typical ranges for adults. Labs differ a little, so the range printed next to your result is the one to go by.

If your Eosinophils is high

A mildly high count is common and most often linked to allergies, asthma or eczema. Higher counts, or counts that stay high, are worth looking into.

Common reasons

  • Hay fever or other allergies
  • Asthma or eczema
  • A reaction to a medicine, including some antibiotics
  • A parasite infection, often after travel
  • Some autoimmune, bowel or skin conditions
  • Less often: a blood condition that makes too many eosinophils

If your Eosinophils is low

A low count is common and rarely a concern on its own. It often reflects stress on the body or steroid medicines.

Common reasons

  • Natural variation, since healthy counts can be close to zero
  • Steroid medicines, which lower it for a while
  • Stress on the body, such as a recent illness or surgery
  • Less often: the body making too much of the stress hormone cortisol

What can throw it off

Allergy season, asthma flare-ups and steroid medicines can move the count up or down for weeks.

Questions to take to your appointment

  1. 1Could my allergies or asthma explain this?
  2. 2Could any of my medicines be the cause?
  3. 3Should anything else be tested if it stays high?

Read together with

Doctors rarely read Eosinophils alone. These usually sit next to it.

Quick answers

What is the eosinophils blood test?

Eosinophils: White blood cells involved in allergies and fighting parasites. Eosinophils are white cells that take part in allergic reactions and fight parasites, such as worms. They are usually a small share of all white cells. Allergies, asthma and eczema (an itchy skin condition) are the most common reasons for a rise.

What is a normal eosinophils level?

For most adults, eosinophils is typically 0.03 to 0.48 x10^3/µL. Some countries print it in %, so check the unit first. Labs differ a little, so the range printed next to your result is the one to go by.

What does a high eosinophils mean?

A mildly high count is common and most often linked to allergies, asthma or eczema. Higher counts, or counts that stay high, are worth looking into. Common reasons include hay fever or other allergies; asthma or eczema; a reaction to a medicine, including some antibiotics; and a parasite infection, often after travel. A doctor reads it together with your other results and how you feel.

What does a low eosinophils mean?

A low count is common and rarely a concern on its own. It often reflects stress on the body or steroid medicines. Common reasons include natural variation, since healthy counts can be close to zero; steroid medicines, which lower it for a while; stress on the body, such as a recent illness or surgery; and less often: the body making too much of the stress hormone cortisol.

What can affect my eosinophils result?

Allergy season, asthma flare-ups and steroid medicines can move the count up or down for weeks.

What should I ask my doctor about my eosinophils?

Questions worth taking to the appointment: Could my allergies or asthma explain this? Could any of my medicines be the cause? Should anything else be tested if it stays high?

What this page can’t do

It reads each number on its own.

Doctors read results together — ALT with AST, ferritin with hemoglobin, TSH with free T4. A pattern says more than any single flag.

It doesn't know you.

Your age, your medicines, how you feel and your last result all change what a number means.

It doesn't remember.

Close this page and your results are gone. That's on purpose: nothing was ever sent to us.

We also make Vita: Health Coach, an app for those parts. It reads your whole report with your medicines and history in mind, answers follow-up questions in plain words, and keeps your reports in one place — for you and for the people you look after.

Vita: Health Coach on the App Store

Sources

Stuck on a word? See the medical words. How we choose our sources. More about Vita Health Coach.