Original Research

Adult and paediatric haematology and clinical chemistry laboratory reference limits for Liberia

Mark W. Kieh, Sarah M. Browne, Greg A. Grandits, Julie Blie, Jestina W. Doe-Anderson, Marie L. Hoover, Bionca Davis, Cavan S. Reilly, James D. Neaton, H. Clifford Lane, Stephen B. Kennedy
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine | Vol 9, No 1 | a1080 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v9i1.1080 | © 2020 Mark W. Kieh, Sarah M. Browne, Greg A. Grandits, Julie Blie, Jestina W. Doe-Anderson, Marie L. Hoover, Bionca Davis, Cavan S. Reilly, James D. Neaton, H. Clifford Lane, Stephen B. Kennedy | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 20 August 2019 | Published: 25 November 2020

About the author(s)

Mark W. Kieh, Partnership for Research on Ebola Virus in Liberia (PREVAIL), New Kru Town, Monrovia, Liberia
Sarah M. Browne, Partnership for Research on Ebola Virus in Liberia (PREVAIL), New Kru Town, Monrovia, Liberia
Greg A. Grandits, Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Julie Blie, Partnership for Research on Ebola Virus in Liberia (PREVAIL), New Kru Town, Monrovia, Liberia
Jestina W. Doe-Anderson, Leidos Biochemical Research, Fredrick, Maryland, United States
Marie L. Hoover, Advanced BioMedical Laboratories, Cinnaminson, New Jersey, United States
Bionca Davis, Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Cavan S. Reilly, Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
James D. Neaton, Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
H. Clifford Lane, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Stephen B. Kennedy, Partnership for Research on Ebola Virus in Liberia (PREVAIL), New Kru Town, Monrovia, Liberia; and, Liberian College of Physicians and Surgeons, Monrovia, Liberia

Abstract

Background: As more research is conducted in Liberia, there is a need for laboratory reference limits for common chemistry and haematology values based on a healthy population. Reference limits from the United States may not be applicable.

Objective: The aim of this study was to present laboratory reference ranges from a Liberian population and compare them to United States ranges.

Methods: Serum chemistry and haematology values from 2529 adults and 694 children and adolescents obtained from two studies conducted in Liberia between 2015 to 2017 were used to determine reference limits. After removing outliers, the reference limits defined by the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles were determined by sex in three age groups (6–11, 12–17, and 18+ years).

Results: The median (interquartile range) of adults was 29 (23, 37) years; 44% were female. The median (interquartile range) for children and adolescents was 12 (9, 15) years; 53% were female. Several reference ranges determined using Liberian participants differed from those in the US. For chemistries, a high percentage of both adults and children/adolescents had high serum chloride levels based on United States ranges. For haematology, a high percentage of Liberian participants had haemoglobin and related assays below the lower limit of United States ranges.

Conclusion: Chemistry and haematology reference intervals determined for a Liberian population of healthy individuals should be considered for establishing eligibility criteria and monitoring of laboratory adverse events for clinical trials as well as for use in clinical settings in Liberia and perhaps for other countries in Western Africa.


Keywords

reference ranges; Liberia; chemistries; haematology; paediatric

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