BACKGROUND: Different age groups may have different reference intervals. However, the currently used reference interval for complete blood count (CBC) in clinical laboratories is based on results from healthy adults between 20 and 50 years of age. In this study, we aimed to establish reference intervals for 16 CBC parameters in Korean healthy elderly individuals. METHODS: A total of 3,359 healthy adults were selected from 4,253 adults (aged ≥20 years) who underwent regular health check-ups, based on a medical examination by interview. The reference intervals for CBC in two groups (aged <60 and ≥60 years), and the partitioning of reference intervals between the two age groups were established. RESULTS: Most CBC parameters showed no significant differences in reference intervals between the two age groups. Among the men, platelet distribution width (PDW) was the only parameter that required a separate reference interval between the two age groups. Among the women, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell distribution width (RDW), and eosinophil % required separate reference intervals between the two age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The reference intervals for most CBC parameters were not significantly different between the two age groups. Except for PDW in men and MCV, MCHC, RDW, and eosinophil % in women, reference intervals for CBC parameters in individuals younger than 60 years of age could also be applied to those that are 60 years of age or older.
Adult ; Aged* ; Blood Cell Count* ; Blood Cells* ; Blood Platelets ; Eosinophils ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Female ; Humans ; Male

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets ; Blood Transfusion

BACKGROUND: For convenience, multiple instruments can be used to measure the same laboratory results within one health care system. However, the laboratory must verify the comparability of the results. In this study, we evaluated a method for verifying the comparability of patient results obtained from two instruments within one health care system, EP31-A-IR, proposed by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. METHODS: Using the range test proposed by the EP31-A-IR, we evaluated the comparability of 17 clinical chemistry test results from the HITACHII/MODULAR system (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland) and the TOSHIBA/200FR system (Toshiba Medical Systems Co., Japan). The 0.33× biological variability, allowable total error, and standards of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments were used to determine the acceptance criteria. RESULTS: Among 16 test parameters, the differences of means between the two instruments were less than their range rejection limit in 15 tests, and so the comparability between the two instruments was considered acceptable. Creatinine was not evaluated using this protocol because its range rejection limit was not deducible from the EP31-A-IR statistics table. CONCLUSIONS: The EP31-A-IR guideline is useful for verifying the comparability of results between two instruments. However, not all parameters are covered by the guideline. With consideration of the characteristics of each test parameter, each laboratory should devise its own method for evaluating comparability.
Clinical Chemistry Tests ; Creatinine ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Humans ; Methods ; Quality Control

Platelet distribution width (PDW) is an index for platelet size variation. In this study, we analysed the correlation between PDW values obtained using two different hematology analysers that employ different measurement methods. Complete blood cell parameters including PDW for 153 healthy individuals were measured using both, ADVIA 2120i (Simens AG, Germany) and XN-3000 (Sysmex, Japan). The PDW values measured using the two hematology analysers showed a moderate correlation (r=0.661, P<0.001), while the hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, red blood cell distribution width values and white blood cell and platelet counts showed strong correlations (r >0.900, P<0.001). PDW obtained using XN-3000 showed a strong correlation with mean platelet volume, whereas PDW obtained using ADVIA 2120i did not. The reference values in this group were 40.0%–64.2% in ADVIA 2120i and 9.0–16.0 fL in XN-3000. In conclusion, PDW values obtained using ADVIA 2120i and XN-3000 are not interchangeable. In laboratories equipped with more than one hematology analyser, a particular analyser should be used consistently for monitoring a particular patient.
Blood Cells ; Blood Platelets* ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Erythrocytes ; Hematology* ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Mean Platelet Volume ; Platelet Count ; Reference Values

Viral respiratory infections are one of the most common infections worldwide. It is important to detect the virus early and precisely. In this study, we evaluated the limit of detection (LoD) and usefulness of the Real-Q RV Detection kit (BioSewoom, Seoul, Korea). We measured the LoD of the Real-Q RV Detection kit using 10 strains of standard viruses. We then compared the detection results by the Allplex Respiratory Panel Assay kit (Seegene, Seoul, Korea) using 123 clinical specimens. The discrepant results were confirmed by sequencing. Among the 10 standard viruses, the LoD of human rhinovirus (HRV) was the lowest and that of parainfluenza virus 2 and 3 was relatively high as detected by Real-Q RV Detection kit. Agreements of the two kits ranged from 95.9% to 100%. Three specimens detected negative by the Allplex Respiratory Panel kit were detected as adenovirus (AdV) by the Real-Q RV Detection kit and were confirmed by sequencing. Similarly, a specimen detected negative by the Allplex Respiratory Panel kit was detected as HRV by the Real-Q RV Detection kit and was confirmed by sequencing. A specimen detected as human enterovirus by the Allplex Respiratory Panel kit was detected as HRV by the Real-Q RV Detection kit and was confirmed by sequencing. Real-Q RV Detection kit showed good diagnostic performance and can be useful for detecting major viruses that cause respiratory infections.
Adenoviridae ; Enterovirus ; Humans ; Limit of Detection ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Respiratory Tract Infections* ; Rhinovirus ; Seoul