A pilot study of the reference values for the commoner haematological and biochemical parameters in Saudi nationals.

A study of 16 haematological and 24 biochemical parameters in healthy, adult, male, volunteer Saudi blood donors was made, and enabled a preliminary determination of the reference values for these parameters to be made for Saudi Arabia. Statistically significant low means were observed for all the haematological parameters except the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration which was raised above Western levels and the mean corpuscular haemoglobin which was normal. A low total leucocyte count was seen to be due largely to a low neutrophil count, but accompanied by a raised lymphocyte count. The main biochemical differences were raised concentrations of serum albumin, alkaline phosphatase, conjugated bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, "liver" lactate dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase. Decreased concentrations of serum globulin, unconjugated bilirubin and calcium were also found. These changes are discussed in relation to putative endemic disease, ethnic origins and environmental factors.