Reference intervals for a complete blood count on an automated haematology analyser Sysmex XN in healthy adults from the southern metropolitan area of Barcelona

BACKGROUND: The examination of peripheral blood is routinely used as a basic test in daily medical practice. Reliable reference intervals are necessary to avoid misdiagnoses, and the establishment of those intervals is an important task for clinical laboratories. The aim of the present study was to establish the reference intervals for complete blood count (CBC) on a Sysmex XN haematology analyser in healthy adults from the southern metropolitan area of Barcelona (Spain). METHODS: A total of 213 apparently healthy adults who received a general health examination at Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge were recruited to this study. Blood samples collected in K(3)EDTA tubes were analysed on a Sysmex XN. Statistically relevant gender based partition was assessed, outliers removed, and the reference intervals calculated in concordance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) EP28-A3C guidelines. RESULTS: The CBC reference intervals were established in 191 adults (64 men and 127 women) who fulfilled all of the inclusion criteria. Significant gender-dependent differences in red blood cells, haematocrit, haemoglobin and platelets were found. The rest of the CBC reference intervals were obtained from the overall data. CONCLUSIONS: We report CBC reference intervals established on a Sysmex XN analyser, a widely used automated analyser for which reference intervals were previously lacking in the literature. However, these reference intervals we recommend should be validated by individual laboratories for the local population as recommended by CLSI.