European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

REFERENCE RANGES OF PLATELET VARIABLES AMONGST APPARENTLY HEALTHY ADULTS IN PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Stella Urekweru Ken-Ezihuo* and Ebirien-Agana Samuel Bartimaeus

ABSTRACT

In clinical medicine, laboratory testing results are of great value and reference ranges play vital role in assisting health professionals to interpret the results obtained. Since age, gender, ethnicity, social differences and environmental factors have been reported as factors which influence haematological blood parameters in different populations, this study was designed to establish baseline reference ranges for platelet count and platelet variables (MPV, PDM, and PCT) in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. Fasting blood samples were collected from 300 apparently healthy 150 male and 150 female subjects whose ages ranged between the ages of 18-50 years. Platelet count and platelet variables were determined using Sysmex KX 21. Results shows that both lower and higher limits of the reference range (142-358 x109/L) obtained in the overall population were lower than the reference range (150-400x109/L) currently used by most laboratories. We also observed that female subjects had higher values compared to the males. Platelet count showed significant difference (p<0.05) in males and females, whereas platelet variables showed no significant difference p>0.05. This study also demonstrated similarity in results of PLT, MPV, PDW and PCT with values reported in previous studies using sysmex KX 21. Data from the present study further showed that reference ranges of platelet count and platelet variables varies due to factors such as gender and age. Further studies on platelets to ascertain the underlying causes of the difference within this population in the Niger Delta, Nigeria is thus suggested.

Keywords: Platelet count, Platelet variables, and reference range.