Accurate, reliable laboratory reference ranges are essential for effective clinical evaluation and monitoring. We present robust reference ranges established for haematology, coagulation and haematinic parameters using the Sysmex XE 2100, CA 1500 and Beckman-Coulter Access analysers. Blood samples were taken from 250 healthy laboratory personnel and routine haematology, coagulation and haematinic parameter analysis performed. Our data represent findings from an extensive study to establish reference ranges in healthy adults.

Screening 111 consecutive patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism revealed AGA in 14%, anti-tTG in 2% and IgA deficiency in 3%. Two patients were known to have CD. Screening detected three new cases. The prevalence of CD in patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism was 4.5% as compared with 0.9% in matched healthy controls. Routine screening for CD should be considered.

Fibrinogen concentrate can be used to correct hypofibrinogenaemia and may reduce blood product usage.

Establishing clearly defined, accurate reference ranges facilitates good interpretation and effective discrimination between health and disease. These can be used to obviate the need for unnecessary follow-up medical examinations thereby reducing costs. Our data represent findings from one of the most comprehensive studies ever undertaken with the XE-2100 to establish reference ranges (RRs) in healthy adults. Early morning venous samples were collected into Greiner EDTA Vacuettes (Ref: 454286) from 221 healthy laboratory personnel (F= 159;M = 62) aged 20–63 yrs for both gender. Age groups were equally represented. Samples were processed on a Sysmex XE-2100 analyser within 1 hour of collection. NCCLS guidelines (C28-A and H3-A4) were followed throughout. Outliers were excluded, data examined for normal distribution from histograms, Q-Q normality plots, skewness and kurtosis and significance levels calculated from the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests of normality. RRs for near normally distributed parameters were calculated using means ± 2SDs. RRs for non-normally distributed parameters were calculated using the log natural transformation and the antilog of the 2.5- and 97.5- percentiles. Bold parameters shown below have near-normal distribution. Non emboldened values are non-normally distributed. P values are derived from Mann-Whitney U test for differences between males and females. New Limits Historical Limits Test of M&F diff. (P value) *=sig. diff. Haemoglobin (g/dL) M 13.7–17.2 13.0–17.5 <0.05* F 12.0–15.2 11.7–15.7 RBC (x1012/L) M 4.5–5.6 4.5–5.9 <0.05* F 3.9–5.1 3.8–5.9 Hct (L/L) M 0.40–0.50 0.40–0.52 <0.05* F 0.37–0.46 0.37–0.47 MCV (fL) M 83–98 80–100 0.090 F 85–98 80–100 MCH (pg) M 28–33 27–32 0.391 F 28–33 26–31 MCHC (g/dL) M 32–36 30–36 <0.05* F 32–35 30–36 RDW (%) M 11.6–14.1 11.0–15.0 0.067 F 12.0–14.7 11.0–15.0 Reticulocytes (x109/L) M 27–93 25–85 0.138 F 22–76 25–85 Platelets ( (x109/L) M 140–320 140–450 <0.05* F 180–380 140–450 MPV (fL) M 9.4–12.2 6.3–10.1 0.426 F 9.2–12.9 6.3–10.1 Leucocytes (x109/L) 3.6–9.2 4.0–11.0 0.854 Neutrophils (x109/L) 1.7–6.2 2.0–7.5 0.760 Lymphoctes (x109/L) 1.0–3.4 1.0–4.0 0.854 Monocytes(x109/L) 0.2–0.8 0.2–0.8 0.073 Eosinophils(x109/L) 0.00–0.4 0.04–0.4 0.847 Basophils(x109/L) 0.00–0.1 0.00–0.1 0.279 Reference limits determined for total leucocytes and neutrophils are significantly lower than historical ranges. However, leucocyte counts are at their lowest in the early morning. Our findings are in general agreement with previously published data from more limited trials undertaken in other countries.