Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Humanized NOD/SCID/IL2rγnull (hu-NSG) Mouse Model for HIV Replication and Latency Studies
Published on: January 7, 2019
Lymphocyte subpopulation reference ranges for monitoring human immunodeficiency virus-infected Chinese adults
Insights
Reference ranges for lymphocyte subsets in Chinese adults differ significantly from Caucasian populations. These findings highlight the need for race-specific ranges in HIV disease management for Chinese patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
Background:
- Accurate lymphocyte subset quantification is crucial for diagnosing and managing immunodeficiency diseases, including HIV.
- Existing reference ranges for lymphocyte subsets are primarily derived from Caucasian populations, potentially limiting their applicability to other ethnic groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish reference ranges for lymphocyte subsets in a healthy Chinese adult population.
- To compare these ranges with those established for Caucasian populations.
- To assess the influence of sex and age on lymphocyte subset counts in Chinese adults.
Main Methods:
- A standardized and quality-controlled flow cytometric immunophenotyping technique was employed.
- Lymphocyte subsets including CD3+, CD3+ CD4+, CD3+ CD8+, CD19+ (B cells), and NK cells were analyzed.
- Absolute counts and percentages of lymphocyte subsets were determined in 208 healthy Chinese adults.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in the means, medians, and 95% reference ranges of lymphocyte subsets between Chinese adults and Caucasian populations.
- CD3+ CD4+ cells exhibited a significant sex difference and increased with age.
- Reference ranges for CD3+, CD3+ CD4+, CD3+ CD8+, B cells, and NK cells were established for Chinese adults.
Conclusions:
- Lymphocyte subset reference ranges established in Caucasian populations should be used with caution when assessing Chinese patients.
- Race-specific reference ranges are recommended for accurate interpretation of lymphocyte subset data in Chinese populations.
- These newly established ranges can be utilized by laboratories lacking their own validated reference ranges, provided quality control measures are implemented.
Abstract:
Two hundred eight healthy human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1- and HIV type 2-seronegative Chinese adults (78 males and 130 females; mean age, 32 years; age range, 18 to 71 years) were analyzed for lymphocyte subsets by a standardized and quality-controlled flow cytometric immunophenotyping technique. While the leukocyte differential values were comparable to those found in studies of Caucasians, the means, medians, and 95% reference ranges of lymphocyte subsets were very different. The 95% reference ranges in absolute counts per microliter of whole blood (percentage of lymphocytes) for CD3+, CD3+ CD4+, CD3+ CD8+, CD3- CD19+ (B), and CD3- with CD16+ and/or CD56+ (NK) cells were 672 to 2,368 (54.8 to 83.0%), 292 to 1,366 (23.1 to 51.0%), 240 to 1,028 (17.9 to 47.5%), 82 to 560 (5.1 to 20.8%), and 130 to 938 (7.1 to 38.0%), respectively. CD3+ CD4+ cells showed significant sex difference (for males, mean of 702 [34.8%] and standard deviation of 258 [7.5%]; for females, mean of 728 [37.3%] and standard deviation of 254 [7.4%]) as well as an increase with age of 42 (1.6%) per decade. Investigations of the NK cell population did not show similar findings. Classification of HIV disease, treatment, and prophylactic regimens based on studies which relied heavily on estimations of lymphocyte subsets alone should be used with special caution for Chinese patients. Provided that adequate quality control measures are taken to ensure comparability of data, we recommend that these ranges be used on a day-to-day basis in laboratories that have not yet established their own reference ranges.
