Reference Intervals for Research Parameters of Reticulocyte Hemoglobin and Platelet Clumps in Healthy Korean Adults

Background: Automated hematology analyzers report various research parameters.Certain parameters may have clinical implications, whereas others are used to set flags in automated hematology analyzers.In this study, we established sex-specific reference intervals for one reticulocyte parameter and two platelet clump parameters in Korean adults and examined the necessity of separate reference intervals for each sex.Methods: A total of 264 healthy adults (157 men and 107 women) aged between 18 and 65 years who underwent regular health check-ups were enrolled.Complete blood cell count was measured using Advia2120i (Siemens, Germany) within 4 hours of phlebotomy.Reference intervals were established according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute EP28-A3 guideline, and the necessity of separate sex-specific reference intervals was examined according to the method outlined by Harris and Boyd. Results:The reference intervals for each parameter were as follows: reticulocyte hemoglobin (g/L), 132.8-172.0(men), 96.7-162.8(women); the number of platelet clumps (# platelet clumps), 10.8-61.0(men), -22.5-64.4(women); and %platelet clumps, 0.20-1.49(men), -0.57-1.53(women).Reticulocyte hemoglobin showed a significant difference between men and women, whereas # platelet clumps and %platelet clumps did not; however, all three parameters needed separate sex-specific reference intervals.Conclusions: We established sex-specific reference intervals for a reticulocyte parameter and platelet clumps parameters in Korean adults for the first time.The results could provide helpful information in clinical decision-making and instrument setting.