Reference range variation in haematological indices amongst five different age groups of less than one year in Islamabad, Pakistan

Objective: The objective of the current study was to establish the reference ranges of haematological indices amongst five healthy infantile (< 1 year) age groups.

Methodology: It was a descriptive cross sectional study carried out at the Department of Haematology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi. Non probability convenience sampling was adopted for the proceedings for the study. A sample size was 2000 which was equally distributed as 400 samples for all the five age groups i.e. < 27 days, 3 month, 6 month, 9 month and one year. One thousands were males and 1000 were the females. An informed consent from the guardian was the pre requisite of study, while those candidates having an evidence of any systemic illness were not excluded.

Results: The values of haematological indices i.e. MCV, MCHC, MCH, PCV and RDW varies with growing age of an infant. A decrease in all these values was observed from < 27days to one year of age infants.

Conclusion: A decrease in all these values was observed from < 27days to one year of age infants. The values reported in this study can be used as a local reference for the newborn aged between < 27 days and 1 year of age.