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. 2017 Nov;31(6):e22150.
doi: 10.1002/jcla.22150. Epub 2017 Jan 20.

Establishment of reference intervals for complete blood count parameters during normal pregnancy in Beijing

Aiwei Li  1 , Shuo Yang  1 , Jie Zhang  1 , Rui Qiao  1
Affiliations

Establishment of reference intervals for complete blood count parameters during normal pregnancy in Beijing

Aiwei Li et al. J Clin Lab Anal. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: To observe the changes of complete blood count (CBC) parameters during pregnancy and establish appropriate reference intervals for healthy pregnant women.

Methods: Healthy pregnant women took the blood tests at all trimesters. All blood samples were processed on Sysmex XE-2100. The following CBC parameters were analyzed: red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), white blood cell count (WBC), and leukocyte differential count. Reference intervals were established using the 2.5th and 97.5th percentile of the distribution.

Results: Complete blood count parameters showed dynamic changes during trimesters. RBC, Hb, Hct declined at trimester 1, reaching their lowest point at trimester 2, and began to rise again at trimester 3. WBC, neutrophil count (Neut), monocyte count (MONO), RDW, and PDW went up from trimester 1 to trimester 3. On the contrary, MCHC, lymphocyte count (LYMPH), PLT, and MPV gradually descended during pregnancy. There were statistical significances in all CBC parameters between pregnant women and normal women, regardless of the trimesters (P<.001). The median obtained were (normal vs pregnancy) as follows: RBC 4.50 vs 3.94×1012 /L, Hb 137 vs 120 g/L, WBC 5.71 vs 9.06×109 /L, LYMPH% 32.2 vs 18.0, Neut% 58.7 vs 75.0, and PLT 251 vs 202×109 /L.

Conclusion: The changes of CBC parameters during pregnancy are described, and reference intervals for Beijing pregnant women are demonstrated in this study.

Keywords: complete blood count; pregnancy; reference interval.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Red blood cell, Hb, and Hct during pregnancy. The dots reflect the median, and the bars reflect the lower and upper limit using the 25th and 75th percentiles. N: normal; T1: trimester 1; T2: trimester 2; T3: trimester 3
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and red blood cell distribution width during pregnancy. The dots reflect the median, and the bars reflect the lower and upper limit using the 25th and 75th percentiles. N: normal; T1: trimester 1; T2: trimester 2; T3: trimester 3
Figure 3
Figure 3
White blood cell, lymphocyte, Neut, and monocyte during pregnancy. The dots reflect the median, and the bars reflect the lower and upper limit using the 25th and 75th percentiles. N: normal; T1: trimester 1; T2: trimester 2; T3: trimester 3
Figure 4
Figure 4
Platelet, mean platelet volume, and platelet distribution width during pregnancy. The dots reflect the median, and the bars reflect the lower and upper limit using the 25th and 75th percentiles. N: normal; T1: trimester 1; T2: trimester 2; T3: trimester 3
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