HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN DIFFERENT AFRICAN POPULATIONS: AN EXPERIENCE FROM UNITED NATIONS LEVEL 3 HOSPITAL

Haematological Parameters in African Population

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate hematological parameters in African population to estimate normal reference intervals for these tests.
Study Design: Cross sectional observational study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology, United Nations level 3 hospital, Nyala, Darfur from 1st Mar to 30th Dec 2014.
Material and Methods: There were 396 healthy African male and female volunteers selected between 18-65 years of age, belonging to different countries. Fresh whole blood was used to measure haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, haematocrit (Hct), total red blood cell (TRBC) count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelet count, total leucocyte count (TLC) and differential white blood cells count. Data were analysed using SPSS version 19.
Results: Mean Hb of study group was 13.81 ± 1.99 g/dl. Mean TLC was 5.50 ± 1.96 x 103/ul. Mean lymphocyte count was 2.58 ± 0.95. Mean platelet count was 234 ± 92 x103 /ul. Mean values for Hb Concentration, TRBC, Hct Ratio, MCV, MCH and MCHC were all higher for African Males than Females; this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: This multi-national African population based study confirms the variations in haematological
parameters previously described in single nation African studies. The commonly observed variations in normal adults are low RBC indices, relative neutropenia and lymphocytosis.