title: Biochemical marker reference values across pediatric, adult, and geriatric ages: establishment of robust pediatric and adult reference intervals on the basis of the Canadian Health Measures Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biological covariates such as age and sex can markedly influence biochemical marker reference values, but no comprehensive study has examined such changes across pediatric, adult, and geriatric ages. The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) collected comprehensive nationwide health information and blood samples from children and adults in the household population and, in collaboration with the Canadian Laboratory Initiative on Pediatric Reference Intervals (CALIPER), examined biological changes in biochemical markers from pediatric to geriatric age, establishing a comprehensive reference interval database for routine disease biomarkers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CHMS collected health information, physical measurements, and biosamples (blood and urine) from approximately 12 000 Canadians aged 3-79 years and measured 24 biochemical markers with the Ortho Vitros 5600 FS analyzer or a manual microplate. By use of CLSI C28-A3 guidelines, we determined age- and sex-specific reference intervals, including corresponding 90% CIs, on the basis of specific exclusion criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biochemical marker reference values exhibited dynamic changes from pediatric to geriatric age. Most biochemical markers required some combination of age and/or sex partitioning. Two or more age partitions were required for all analytes except bicarbonate, which remained constant throughout life. Additional sex partitioning was required for most biomarkers, except bicarbonate, total cholesterol, total protein, urine iodine, and potassium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the fluctuations in biochemical markers over a wide age range provides important insight into biological processes and facilitates clinical application of biochemical markers to monitor manifestation of various disease states. The CHMS-CALIPER collaboration addresses this important evidence gap and allows the establishment of robust pediatric and adult reference intervals.
authors.affiliation: CALIPER Program, Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; khosrow.adeli@sickkids.ca.
authors.forename: Khosrow
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adeli
authors.affiliation: CALIPER Program, Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada;
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.affiliation: CALIPER Program, Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada;
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nieuwesteeg
authors.affiliation: CALIPER Program, Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada;
authors.forename: Joshua E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Raizman
authors.affiliation: CALIPER Program, Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada;
authors.forename: Yunqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada;
authors.forename: Suzy L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Current affiliation: Section Head, Laboratory Services, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blais
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000592:standards*; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012015:Reference Standards; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004798:Enzymes; D008055:Lipids; D003404:Creatinine