title: Haematological and biochemical reference values of Gambian infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish haematological and biological reference values for Gambian infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Basic haematological and biochemical indices were analysed in blood samples obtained from healthy infants from Sukuta in the Western Division of The Gambia. The 2.5 and the 97.5 centiles for these indices were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reference ranges for haematological and biochemical indices were determined. Haemoglobin, total white cell count (WBC) and platelet levels decreased with age (P < 0.001), whereas most of the white cell count subsets except monocytes did not vary with age. Potassium and alkaline phosphatase fell significantly with increasing age (P < 0.001; P < 0.001), whereas urea and creatinine rose with increasing age (P = 0.002; P < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our set of haematological and biochemical reference values for healthy infants in The Gambia differs from values in other settings, thus underscoring the importance of establishing region-specific paediatric reference ranges to ensure optimal patient management and evaluate the impact of interventions in clinical research.
authors.affiliation: Vaccinology Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Aderonke A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Odutola
authors.affiliation: Vaccinology Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Muhammed O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Afolabi
authors.affiliation: Statistics and Data Management Department, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jafali
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratories, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Ignatius
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baldeh
authors.affiliation: Vaccinology Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Olumuyiwa A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Owolabi
authors.affiliation: Vaccinology Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Owiafe
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratories, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Gibril
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bah
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratories, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Boto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jaiteh
authors.affiliation: Statistics and Data Management Department, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Nuredin I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: Statistics and Data Management Department, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Simon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Donkor
authors.affiliation: Vaccinology Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Jorjoh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ndure
authors.affiliation: Vaccinology Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adetifa
authors.affiliation: Vaccinology Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Katie L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Flanagan
authors.affiliation: Vaccinology Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Martin O C
authors.initials: MOC
authors.lastname: Ota
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D044383:Black People; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000097:blood; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014508:Urea; D003404:Creatinine; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D011188:Potassium
keywords: Gambian infants; biochemical; haematological; reference values