Sex-divided reference intervals for mean platelet volume, platelet large cell ratio and plateletcrit using the Sysmex XN-10 automated haematology analyzer in a UK population

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to define the sex-divided reference intervals for platelet indices (mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR) and plateletcrit (PCT)) on the Sysmex XN-10. METHODS: A total of 2376 samples were assayed for full blood count on the Sysmex XN-10 haematology analyzer. After removing the outliers, reference intervals were calculated using the mean ± 2SD. The P value 0.05 was adopted to denote statistical significance. RESULTS: There was a statistical significance (α = 0.05) between sex-divided reference intervals for MPV (p = 0.007), P-LCR (p = 0.015) and PCT (p < 0.001), thus separate reference intervals were calculated for these indices, with orientation to the sex-divisions as follows: MPV, 9.1–13.0 fL [males] and 9.2–12.8 fL [females]; P-LCR, 17.6–47.0% [males] and 17.8–47.8% [females]; and PCT, 0.16–0.35% [males] and 0.18–0.37% [females]. No significance was found between sex-divided reference intervals for the PDW (p = 0.838), therefore a reference interval for total individuals was calculated for this platelet measurement as 9.3–17.3 fL. CONCLUSION: This study showed comparable reference intervals, using the Sysmex XN-10, with the previous literature. It determined the need to define sex-specific reference intervals for the MPV, P-LCR and PCT, but not for the PDW. These reference intervals will allow for low and high values to be facilitated in order to do further research and guide platelet disorder management.