Akiyoshi Takami1, Shinichiro Watanabe2, Yoshikazu Yamamoto3, Hayato Miyachi4, Yukiharu Bamba5, Masahiko Ohata6, Seiji Mishima7, Hiroshi Kubota8, Akihiko Nishiura9, Tohru Inaba10, Megumi Enomoto1, Takayuki Mitsuhashi11, Kayoko Nakanishi12, Reiko Miura13, Emi Nonaka14, Kei Shimbo15, Yutaka Yatomi16, Kaoru Tohyama17. 1. Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan. 2. Fujisawa City Hospital, Fujisawa, Japan. 3. Tenri Health Care University, Tenri, Japan. 4. Tokai University, Isehara, Japan. 5. BML, Inc. BML General Laboratory, Kawagoe, Japan. 6. Shizuoka Red Cross Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan. 7. Sanyo Women's College, Hatsukaichi, Japan. 8. Clinical Laboratory, Osaka City University Hospital, Osaka, Japan. 9. National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan. 10. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. 11. Keio University, Tokyo, Japan. 12. Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. 13. Sapporo Hokuyu Hospital, Sapporo, Japan. 14. Oita Sanai Medical Center, Oita, Japan. 15. Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, Mibu, Japan. 16. Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. 17. Kawasaki Medical School Hospital, Kurashiki, Japan.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: While white blood cell (WBC) parameters have been suggested to depend on ethnicity and gender, reference intervals in healthy Asian populations are limited. The present study established reference intervals of WBC parameters for healthy adults in Japan. METHODS: A total of 750 healthy adults (447 women and 303 men; 18-67 years old, median 40 years old) at 7 Japanese centers who participated in regular medical checkups entered this study. The WBC parameters were measured using automated hematocytometers and blood film reviews by a manual microscopic examination. RESULTS: The reference intervals of the WBC parameters according to gender in healthy adults were determined. Age-specific decreases in WBC counts of both gender groups and in neutrophil counts of women were noted. Favorable correlations between the hematocytometer and microscopic methods were found in neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils but not in monocytes or basophils. CONCLUSION: This study suggests the need to consider gender and age in the clinical use of reference intervals of WBC parameters.
INTRODUCTION: While white blood cell (WBC) parameters have been suggested to depend on ethnicity and gender, reference intervals in healthy Asian populations are limited. The present study established reference intervals of WBC parameters for healthy adults in Japan. METHODS: A total of 750 healthy adults (447 women and 303 men; 18-67 years old, median 40 years old) at 7 Japanese centers who participated in regular medical checkups entered this study. The WBC parameters were measured using automated hematocytometers and blood film reviews by a manual microscopic examination. RESULTS: The reference intervals of the WBC parameters according to gender in healthy adults were determined. Age-specific decreases in WBC counts of both gender groups and in neutrophil counts of women were noted. Favorable correlations between the hematocytometer and microscopic methods were found in neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils but not in monocytes or basophils. CONCLUSION: This study suggests the need to consider gender and age in the clinical use of reference intervals of WBC parameters.