Enzyme immunoassay of serum erythropoietin in healthy children: reference values

A solid phase enzyme immunoassay for erythropoietin which required only a small specimen of blood was evaluated. It permitted measurement up to 150 IU/L. Recovery was between 86.2% and 110.0% and between-batch precision between 4.7% and 5.7%. We determined the levels of erythropoietin in infants aged 10 months (geometric mean 11.2 IU/L; 95% range 3.6-34.9) and in children aged 2 years (geometric mean 10.5 IU/L; 95% range 4.3-25.8). Both were significantly higher than the values found in children aged 4 years (geometric mean 7.2 IU/L; 95% range 2.4-21.8). There were no differences between the values in children at 4 years, those aged 4-15 years and adults.