Comparison of some haematological indices of Africans and Caucasians resident in the same Nigerian environment

Abstract

Haemoglobin levels, total with blood cell counts and differential white blood cell counts were estimated for 512 Africans and 196 Caucasians who had been living in the same cosmopolitan Nigerian town for at least a year. Haemoglobin levels for African females differed significantly from those of Caucasians and many of the African females had values which indicated anaemia. Total white blood cell counts were similar, but an increased lymphocyte count was found in Africans and a higher neutrophil count in Caucasians. Eosinophil count was higher in Africans than in the Caucasians.