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Chinese Pediatric Reference Intervals for Serum Cortisol on IMMULITE 2000.
Ling Li Wang1, Li Yue Zhang2, Hui Yan Wang1
1Unit of Laboratory Medicine, Second Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Annals of Laboratory Medicine
|October 27, 2017
Summary
This study establishes crucial pediatric reference intervals for serum cortisol in healthy Chinese children aged 4-18 years. These new reference ranges improve diagnostic accuracy for pediatric endocrine conditions in this population.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Clinical Chemistry
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Accurate interpretation of serum cortisol levels is vital for pediatric diagnosis.
- Existing reference intervals are primarily based on Caucasian populations, limiting their applicability to other ethnicities.
- Establishing population-specific reference intervals is essential for precise clinical decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and establish pediatric reference intervals for serum cortisol levels in a healthy Chinese population.
- To address the lack of specific cortisol reference ranges for Chinese children.
- To improve the accuracy of pediatric endocrine disorder diagnosis in China.
Main Methods:
- Serum cortisol levels were measured in 1,143 healthy Chinese children (4-18 years) using the IMMULITE 2000 Immunoassay System.
- Participants were stratified into age groups (4-8, 9-12, 13-15, 16-18 years) following CLSI guideline EP28-A3c.
- Blood samples were collected in the morning (7-9 a.m.) and afternoon (1-3 p.m.) to account for diurnal variations.
Main Results:
- Specific pediatric reference intervals for serum cortisol were established for different age groups: 4-8 years (49.6-323.7 nmol/L), 9-12 years (70.9-395.3 nmol/L), and 13-15 years (90.1-448.7 nmol/L).
- For adolescents aged 16-18 years, distinct reference intervals were determined for morning (118.2-464.7 nmol/L) and afternoon (71.4-446.7 nmol/L) cortisol levels.
- These intervals provide a baseline for interpreting cortisol test results in Chinese children.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully established pediatric reference intervals for serum cortisol in Chinese children, enhancing diagnostic capabilities.
- These population-specific intervals are critical for accurate clinical interpretation and management of endocrine conditions in pediatric patients in China.
- Further research is recommended to validate these intervals across different analytical systems and diverse pediatric populations.
