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. 2018 Apr 5;13(4):e0194497.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194497. eCollection 2018.

Comprehensive haematological indices reference intervals for a healthy Omani population: First comprehensive study in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Middle Eastern countries based on age, gender and ABO blood group comparison

Adhra Al-Mawali  1 , Avinash Daniel Pinto  1 , Raiya Al-Busaidi  2 , Rabab H Al-Lawati  2 , Magdi Morsi  1
Affiliations

Comprehensive haematological indices reference intervals for a healthy Omani population: First comprehensive study in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Middle Eastern countries based on age, gender and ABO blood group comparison

Adhra Al-Mawali et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Reference intervals for venous blood parameters differs with age, gender, geographic region, and ethnic groups. Hence local laboratory reference intervals are important to improve the diagnostic accuracy of health assessments and diseases. However, there have been no comprehensive published reference intervals established in Oman, the Gulf Cooperation Council or Middle Eastern countries. Hence, the aim of this study was to establish reference intervals for full blood count in healthy Omani adults.

Methods: Venous blood specimens were collected from 2202 healthy individuals aged 18 to 69 years from January 2012 to April 2017, and analysed by Sysmex XS-1000i and Cell-Dyn Sapphire automated haematology analysers. Results were statistically analysed and compared by gender, age, and ABO blood group. The lower and upper reference limits of the haematology reference intervals were established at the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles respectively.

Results: Reference intervals were calculated for 17 haematology parameters which included red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet parameters. Red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB), haematocrit (HCT), platelet and platelet haematocrit counts of the healthy donors were significantly different between males and females at all ages (p < 0.05), with males having higher mean values of RBC, HGB and HCT than females. Other complete blood count parameters showed no significant differences between genders, age groups, instruments, or blood groups. Our study showed a lower haemoglobin limit for the normal reference interval in males and females than the currently used in Oman.

Conclusions: Data from this study established specific reference intervals which could be considered for general use in Oman. The differences in haematology reference intervals highlights the necessity to establish reference intervals for venous blood parameters among the healthy population in each country or at least in each region.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Statistical methodology employed in estimating reference intervals.
Lower and upper reference limits were determined using the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Comparison of mean red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), haemoglobin (HGB), and lymphocyte (LYM) values between different instruments.
Instrument 1 denotes Cell-Dyn Sapphire and Instrument 2 denotes Sysmex XS-100i.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Variations of mean red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), haemoglobin (HGB), and lymphocyte (LYM) values according to age and gender.
* denotes significantly higher values (P < 0.05) between genders in the same age group.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Comparison of mean red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), haemoglobin (HGB), and lymphocyte (LYM) values amongst ABO blood group.
The selected analytes show no significant difference amongst ABO blood group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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