Hematological reference values of healthy Malaysian population

Area of Science:

• Clinical laboratory science
• Hematology

Background:

• Accurate laboratory test reference values are essential for differentiating health and disease.
• Hematology reference intervals exhibit significant variation due to demographic and preanalytical factors.
• Existing manufacturer and international reference ranges may not be suitable for all populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normal hematology reference ranges for the Malaysian population.
• To highlight discrepancies between local and international hematology reference values.

Main Methods:

• Hematology and coagulation analyses were performed using Sysmex XE-2100 and ACL 9000 analyzers.
• Reference ranges were determined specifically for the Malaysian demographic.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were observed between the established Malaysian reference values and those from manufacturers.
• Considerable variations were noted when compared to Western populations and standard laboratory manuals.
• The study underscores the need for population-specific hematology reference intervals.

Conclusions:

• Local reference ranges are necessary for accurate health and disease assessment in the Malaysian population.
• Relying on non-local reference values can lead to misinterpretation of hematological results.
• This research provides a crucial dataset for Malaysian clinical laboratories.