Reference percentiles of hematological and biochemical iron values of blood donors in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
In a setting where there is no functional blood transfusion service, there is a need to establish reference values which will assist in determining the cut-off values of the donor pool and also to evaluate anemia. Three hundred and forty eight blood donors of both sexes, aged 18 to 62 years were studied in a cross-sectional descriptive study. Four biochemical parameters: serum ferritin (SF), serum iron (SI), total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation (TS) and four hematological parameters: hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood cell count (WBC) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), were assessed. The median and percentile ranges (10-90% percentile) of the biochemical and hematological parameters were as follows: SF 46.8 ng/ml (0.0-173.1), SI 85.9 microg/dl (19.7-338.0), TIBC 224.7 microg/dl (60.9-541.4), TS 41.2% (15.3-90.6), Hb 12.9 g/dl (7.74-15.6), PCV 38.0% (22.9-47.0), WBC 4.5 x 10(9)/l (3.0-8.0) and ESR 8.0 mm/h (1.0-24.6). The sex of the blood donor volunteers was found to exert an influence on SF, SI, TIBC and WBC in favor of the female; P<0.001. The age of the blood donors had a significant influence on some of the variables especially the hematological variables such as Hb, PCV and ESR (P<0.001). At a cut-off value of Hb 12.0 g/dl, SF 15.0 ng/ml and TS 16, 10.4 and 6.0% had iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia respectively in this study population. There is a high percentage of iron deficiency anemia in this donor population and this calls for urgent attention.
Jeremiah
Zaccheaus Awortu
ZA
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. zacjerry@yahoo.com
Koate
Baribefe Banavule
BB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D001782:Blood Donors; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis*
D006454:Hemoglobins; D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron