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Hematology reference intervals in 6-12-year-old children: the health-oriented pedagogical project (HOPP)
Martin Frank Strand1, Per Morten Fredriksen1,2, Morten Lindberg3
1Department of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Oslo, Norway.
Insights
This study establishes pediatric reference intervals for blood test results in healthy children aged 6-12 years. These new hematological parameters aid in accurate diagnosis for pediatric health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Clinical Pathology
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Accurate interpretation of laboratory test results is crucial for clinical diagnosis.
- Establishing reliable pediatric reference intervals is essential for differentiating healthy from sick children.
- Existing reference intervals may not adequately represent diverse pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish comprehensive pediatric reference intervals for key hematological parameters.
- To define age- and sex-specific reference ranges where necessary for accurate interpretation.
- To provide a robust dataset for pediatric clinical laboratories and healthcare providers.
Main Methods:
- Nonparametric estimation of reference intervals (2.5th and 97.5th percentiles) following CLSI C28-A3 guidelines.
- Analysis of blood samples from 1351 healthy schoolchildren aged 6-12 years.
- Age and/or sex-specific partitioning for hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin, and erythrocyte counts.
Main Results:
- Hematocrit, MCV, hemoglobin, and erythrocyte counts required age and/or sex-based partitioning.
- Platelets, white blood cell counts, MCH, and MCHC did not require partitioning.
- Red blood cell parameters showed an increasing trend with age, while leukocytes, lymphocytes, basophils, and platelets showed a slight decrease.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully established pediatric reference intervals for multiple hematological parameters.
- Age and sex are significant factors for certain hematological parameters in children.
- These reference intervals will improve the accuracy of diagnosing hematological conditions in children.
Abstract:
Reference intervals are essential for correct interpretation of laboratory test results, supporting clinicians in distinguishing between healthy and sick individuals. The present study aims to establish pediatric reference intervals for hematological parameters based on a large population of healthy schoolchildren. Blood samples were obtained from 1351 children 6-12 years of age participating in the Health-Oriented Pedagogical Project (HOPP). Reference intervals for hematological parameters were estimated by the nonparametric method following the CLSI C28-A3 guidelines. Reference intervals were estimated as 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles with corresponding 90% confidence intervals. While hematocrit and MCV required age and sex partitioning, hemoglobin and erythrocytes were partitioned for age. The remaining parameters, MCH, MCHC, platelets and white blood cell counts did not require partitioning. While red blood cell parameters exhibited an increasing trend with age, there was a slight decrease in leukocytes, lymphocytes, basophils and platelets with age. The remaining parameters were stable across our age span.
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