  The BFKL equation and the kT-factorization theorem are used to obtain
predictions for F2 in the small Bjorken-x region over a wide range of Q**2. The
dependence on the parameters, especially on those concerning the infrared
region, is discussed. After a background fit to recent experimental data
obtained at HERA and at Fermilab (E665 experiment), we find that the predicted,
almost Q**2 independent BFKL slope lambda >= 0.5 appears to be too steep at
lower Q**2 values. Thus there seems to be a chance that future HERA data can
distinguish between pure BFKL and conventional field theoretic renormalization
group approaches.
