Ying Li1, Ahmed Ebrahim Mussa1, Aiguo Tang1, Zhongyuan Xiang1, Ximing Mo2. 1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, PR China. 2. Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, PR China. Electronic address: cd1700@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The current child-specific reference intervals (RIs) are inadequate or even unavailable for many analyses in China. Many of the RIs used in Chinese laboratories were derived from Chinese adult standards or from foreign studies. The aim of this study was to establish specific RIs for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea (UR), creatinine (Cr) and uric acid (UA) for apparently healthy Chinese adolescents. METHODS: Overall, 1682 apparently healthy adolescents were enrolled. Serum ALT, AST, UR, Cr and UA were measured by an ARCHITECT C-8000 automated chemistry analyzer. The 2.5th and 97.5th percentile RIs were determined using non-parametric methods. RESULTS: The established reference intervals for ALT, AST, UR, CR and UA were 7.5-42.8 U/L, 12.8-40.2 U/L, 3.12-6.38 mmol/L, 42.7-91.2 μmol/L, and 180.2-409.6 μmol/L in boys and 6.5-32.8 U/L, 10.4-32.5 U/L, 3.05-6.47 mmol/L, 40.2-88.8 μmol/L and 176.5-394.0 μmol/L in girls, respectively. The median and upper and lower limits for the RIs of ALT, AST, Cr and UA were higher in boys than they were in girls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: RIs based on adult criteria are not applicable to adolescents. It was necessary to establish specific, accurate and suitable RIs for Chinese adolescents. We have established reference intervals of ALT, AST, UR, Cr and UA that are defined specifically for Chinese adolescents and are appropriate for universal use among Chinese laboratories.
BACKGROUND: The current child-specific reference intervals (RIs) are inadequate or even unavailable for many analyses in China. Many of the RIs used in Chinese laboratories were derived from Chinese adult standards or from foreign studies. The aim of this study was to establish specific RIs for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea (UR), creatinine (Cr) and uric acid (UA) for apparently healthy Chinese adolescents. METHODS: Overall, 1682 apparently healthy adolescents were enrolled. Serum ALT, AST, UR, Cr and UA were measured by an ARCHITECT C-8000 automated chemistry analyzer. The 2.5th and 97.5th percentile RIs were determined using non-parametric methods. RESULTS: The established reference intervals for ALT, AST, UR, CR and UA were 7.5-42.8 U/L, 12.8-40.2 U/L, 3.12-6.38 mmol/L, 42.7-91.2 μmol/L, and 180.2-409.6 μmol/L in boys and 6.5-32.8 U/L, 10.4-32.5 U/L, 3.05-6.47 mmol/L, 40.2-88.8 μmol/L and 176.5-394.0 μmol/L in girls, respectively. The median and upper and lower limits for the RIs of ALT, AST, Cr and UA were higher in boys than they were in girls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: RIs based on adult criteria are not applicable to adolescents. It was necessary to establish specific, accurate and suitable RIs for Chinese adolescents. We have established reference intervals of ALT, AST, UR, Cr and UA that are defined specifically for Chinese adolescents and are appropriate for universal use among Chinese laboratories.