title: The CBC: reference ranges for neonates.
abstract: "Normal values" for blood parameters of neonates are generally unavailable, because blood is not usually drawn on healthy, normal neonates to establish normal ranges. Instead, "reference ranges" are used, consisting of the 5th to the 95th percentile values compiled from tests performed on neonatal patients with minimal pathology, under the premise that such ranges approximate normal values. In recent years, we have been seeking to establish reference ranges for various elements of the complete blood count (CBC) of neonates, using the large databases of Intermountain Healthcare, a health care system in the western United States. Establishing these reference ranges has been facilitated by using modern hematology analyzers and electronic data repositories of clinical and laboratory information. The present review brings together several of our recent reports, displaying reference ranges for elements of the CBC among neonates at various gestational and postnatal ages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women and Newborns, Intermountain Healthcare, Institute for Healthcare Delivery Research, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. rdchris@ihc.com
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jopling
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wiedmeier
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins