Age- and sex-specific reference intervals for hematologic analytes in Chinese children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Hematology
• Clinical Pathology
• Reference Interval Establishment

Background:

• Pediatric laboratory test interpretation requires age- and sex-specific reference intervals.
• Limited large-scale data exists for healthy Han Chinese children.
• China currently lacks national pediatric hematological reference standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish age- and sex-specific hematological reference intervals for healthy children in China.
• To provide a foundation for developing national pediatric blood testing standards.
• To enhance the diagnostic accuracy of pediatric hematological conditions.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 2164 healthy children aged 1-7 years from Henan province was enrolled.
• Venous blood samples were analyzed for 17 key hematologic analytes.
• Parametric (mean ± 2 SD) and nonparametric (2.5-97.5th percentiles) methods were used to estimate reference values.

Main Results:

• Reference intervals were determined for 17 hematologic analytes.
• Included parameters cover red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and white blood cell counts.
• Platelet counts and related parameters were also analyzed.

Conclusions:

• Established age- and sex-specific reference intervals offer evidence-based guidance for pediatric disease diagnosis and treatment.
• These findings are foundational for the future development of national blood testing standards in China.
• Improved reference intervals will aid clinicians in better interpreting pediatric hematological results.