skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

8852

Reference values of hematological indices of infants, children, and adolescents in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Original Research

(3153) Views  (2103) Full article downloads

Authors: FI Buseri, IJ Siaminabo, ZA Jeremiah

Published Date July 2010 Volume 2010:2 Pages 65 - 70
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/PLMI.S9988

FI Buseri1, IJ Siaminabo2, ZA Jeremiah1

1Hematology and Blood Transfusion Sciences Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria; 2Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Lack of standard local reference values have been a problem facing hematological practice in Nigeria. Our aim was to establish reference hematological values from infancy to adolescence for future use in Nigeria.

Methods: A total of 1,021 apparently healthy Nigerian children aged 0–17 years were recruited for this cross-sectional descriptive study from the University of Port Harcourt Teaching ­Hospital, Port Harcourt, during preparatory exercises for immunization for Hepatitis B vaccine and from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology Day Care/Nursery, Primary, and International Demonstration Secondary School, Port Harcourt, during their standard medical examination prior to starting school. All hematological parameters were carried out using International Committee on Standardization in Hematology (ICSH) approved manual methods.

Results: We report a reference range study conducted in Port Harcourt infants (aged 1 day to less than 1 year), children (1 to less than 5 years, 5 to less than 9 years, 9 to 14 years), and adolescents (14 to 17 years old), establishing reference intervals for hematological parameters. Several differences were observed when compared to previously established values from Caucasians, most notably in hemoglobin, packed cell volume, platelets, total white blood cell count, and neutrophil values.

Conclusion: The values reported in this study can be used as local reference values for Port Harcourt infants, children, and adolescents.

Keywords: reference values, hematologic indices, infants, children, adolescents, Port Harcourt, Nigeria




 

Other articles by Dr Zaccheaus Jeremiah



Readers of this article also read:
  • Testimonials

    "... I was impressed at the rapidity of publication from submission to final acceptance." Dr Edwin Thrower, PhD, Yale University