title: Establishment of reference interval for immature platelet fraction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immature platelet fraction (IPF) is a parameter for reticulated platelets. A high percentage IPF (%-IPF) is indicative of consumptive or recovering thrombocytopenic disorders in contrast to a low %-IPF seen in aplastic states. Absolute IPF (A-IPF) specifically reflects the number of immature platelets in circulation. This study aimed to establish reliable reference intervals for %-IPF and A-IPF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Except outliers, platelet counts and IPF were determined in 2152 healthy individuals (1252 men and 900 women) and 133 umbilical cord blood from healthy full-term neonates using XE-2100 hematology analyzer (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan). The reference intervals for %-IPF and A-IPF were defined using nonparametrical percentile methods according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guideline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Platelets,%-IPF, and A-IPF all showed nonparametrical distributions. In total individuals, the reference intervals for %-IPF and A-IPF were 0.5-3.3% (0.5-3.1% in men; 0.5-3.4% in women) and 1.25-7.02 × 10(9) /L (1.30-6.80 × 10(9) /L in men; 1.21-7.15 × 10(9) /L in women), respectively. The reference intervals for %-IPF and A-IPF in umbilical cord blood were 0.7-3.8% and 1.93-9.7 × 10(9) /L, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides the reference interval for IPF, including %-IPF and A-IPF, according to the CLSI guideline. These results could be used as fundamental data for clinical use as well as future researches.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: H-W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Y-M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012016:Reference Values; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Immature platelet fraction; Sysmex XE-2100; reference interval