Lab Med Qual Assur.  2024 Mar;46(1):38-42. 10.15263/jlmqa.2024.46.1.38.

Reference Intervals for Research Parameters of Reticulocyte Hemoglobin and Platelet Clumps in Healthy Korean Adults

• Kim M
• Kim M
• Hong S
• Hong S
• Kim NY
• Kim NY
• Jeon K
• Jeon K
• Lee J
• Lee J
• Kim HS
• Kim HS
• Kang HJ
• Kang HJ
• Lee YK

• KMID: 2554461
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15263/jlmqa.2024.46.1.38

Abstract

Background
Automated hematology analyzers report various research parameters. Certain parameters may have clinical implications, whereas others are used to set flags in automated hematology analyzers. In this study, we established sex-specific reference intervals for one reticulocyte parameter and two platelet clump parameters in Korean adults and examined the necessity of separate reference intervals for each sex.
Methods
A total of 264 healthy adults (157 men and 107 women) aged between 18 and 65 years who underwent regular health check-ups were enrolled. Complete blood cell count was measured using Advia2120i (Siemens, Germany) within 4 hours of phlebotomy. Reference intervals were established according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute EP28-A3 guideline, and the necessity of separate sex-specific reference intervals was examined according to the method outlined by Harris and Boyd.
Results
The reference intervals for each parameter were as follows: reticulocyte hemoglobin (g/L), 132.8–172.0 (men), 96.7–162.8 (women); the number of platelet clumps (# platelet clumps), 10.8–61.0 (men), －22.5–64.4 (women); and %platelet clumps, 0.20–1.49 (men), －0.57–1.53 (women). Reticulocyte hemoglobin showed a significant difference between men and women, whereas # platelet clumps and %platelet clumps did not; however, all three parameters needed separate sex-specific reference intervals.
Conclusions
We established sex-specific reference intervals for a reticulocyte parameter and platelet clumps parameters in Korean adults for the first time. The results could provide helpful information in clinical decision-making and instrument setting.

Keyword

Reference interval; Reticulocyte hemoglobin; Platelet clumps; Korean