title: Reference intervals for common biochemical analytes in serum and plasma of a random adult population in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reference interval (RI) is arguably the most widely used decision making tool in clinical practice. Using the manufacturer's reference values may not be appropriate for other ethnic populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to determine the reference intervals (RI) of Ghanaians and compare them to that provided in kits.
  
  
  METHODS
  6300 adults, 25-65 years were selected by cluster sampling from three communities in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. A total of 4733 (male/female ratio = 1:1.5) participated. Fasting Blood Glucose (FF), 2-hour post-glucose plasma glucose (2HPP), total cholesterol (TCHOL), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), uric acid (UA), urea (U), albumin (ALB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male and female mean ages were 44.9 +/-14.7 and 44.0 +/-14.6 years, respectively. Most assays had mean values between the 25th and 75th percentile apart from HDL-C whose mean values fell within the 50th percentile. Thus half of the manufacturers RI (MRI) represented <25 percentile for FF, 2HPP, LDL-C, ALB and ALP. The MRI for Urea was < 25th - > 97.5th.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mean values of most of the parameters determined represented the 25th - 75th and not the 95th or 97.5th percentile.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Pathology Unit, Dept. of Med Lab. Sc., School of AlliedHealth Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box KB 143, Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Asare
authors.forename: N Nortey
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Ezekiel
authors.forename: Tabiim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nkumpoi
authors.forename: Albert G B
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Amoah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values