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Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management
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Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management

Published on: January 19, 2024

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Reference intervals for hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume in an ethnically diverse community sample of Canadian

Jemila S Hamid1, Eshetu G Atenafu2, Cornelia M Borkhoff3,4

  • 1Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.

BMC Pediatrics
|May 20, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Establishing pediatric reference intervals for hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is crucial for child health. This study provides Canadian data for children up to 36 months, suggesting a single hemoglobin reference interval.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hematology
  • Clinical Laboratory Science
  • Community Health Research

Background:

  • Accurate reference intervals for hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) are essential for diagnosing anemia and other hematological conditions in children.
  • Existing reference intervals may not adequately represent diverse pediatric populations, necessitating studies in community-based samples.
  • The TARGet Kids! cohort provides a valuable dataset for establishing such intervals in Canadian children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish community-based reference intervals for hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in Canadian children aged 36 months and younger.
  • To analyze these reference intervals across different age groups and sexes within an ethnically diverse sample.
  • To provide data that can inform clinical practice and improve pediatric hematological assessments.

Main Methods:

  • Blood samples were collected from 2106 children at scheduled primary care visits from 2 weeks to 36 months of age.
  • Hematological analysis was performed using the Sysmex XN-9000 Hematology Analyzer.
  • Data analysis followed Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, with partitioning by sex and age (monthly and larger partitions) to calculate reference intervals and 90% confidence intervals.

Main Results:

  • A wide reference interval for hemoglobin was observed from 2 to 36 months, with minimal differences across age groups or by sex.
  • The reference interval for mean corpuscular volume (MCV) showed a significant decrease from 2 to 7 months, reaching its lowest point in the second year of life.
  • A slight increase in MCV was noted in the final months of the third year of life.

Conclusions:

  • A single hemoglobin reference interval is suggested for children aged 2 to 36 months.
  • Further research is recommended for children under 4 months to refine MCV reference intervals.
  • These findings contribute to establishing age- and sex-specific hematological norms for Canadian children.
Abstract

Keywords:
HemoglobinMean corpuscular volumeReference intervals

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