The RI has a great role in the interpretation of hematological test results. The aim of this study was to establish hematological parameters among full-term newborn babies by using UCB specimens which are the first time reported in Ethiopia. The present study showed that mode of delivery had no influence of hematological parameters of the newborn babies which agrees to a study done by Fady M et al reported that there was no significant difference in the MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, lymphocytes, and monocytes (15). However, this result is contrasting to a study done by L Glasser et al showed that mode of delivery had influenced to hematological test values.
In the current study, there was no statistically significant mean difference of hematological parameters between males and females which was consistent with a study reported in Sokoto, Northern Nigeria (16) and Lagos, Nigeria (17). On the other hand, Our finding of the 95% RI of RBC values were comparable to a study reported in Nepal (18), Iran (19), and Nigeria (20) reported. The of Hgb values of this study agrees with a study reported in Saudi Arabia, however, the 95th percentiles of platelet value the present study was greater than as compared to the Saudi reported (21). The 95% RI of WBC in our study similar to the study conducted in Turkey (7.64–22.16 × 109/l versus 71.90–25.44 × 109/l) (22).
The lower limit WBC value of this study was lower but the MCH RI were similar to a study done in Saudi Arabia (21), Nepal (18), and Pakistan (23). The Hct value of the current study was comparable to a study conducted in Logos, Nigeria and Iran. However, the lower limit of WBC was higher than a study reported in Sagamu, Nigeria, and Iran (Table 4). This may be due to the variation in geographical location, and race or genetic factors may be contributing to the presence of this difference.
Table 4
Comparison of the current study to other similar findings based on cord blood hematological parameters
Hematological parameter | RI |
Current study | Saudi Arabia (21) | Nepal (18) | Pakistan (23) | Lagos, Nigeria (17) | Mashhad, Iran (19) | Iraq (24) | Sagamu, Nigeria (20) |
Total WBC | 7.64–22.16 | 10.9–21.5 | 10.49–19.4 | 9.7–17.7 | 7.9–18.3 | 5.16–18.2 | 7.32–12.92 | 4.2–25.8 |
RBC | 3.69–5.47 | 5.1–16.3 | 3.67–4.93 | - | 3.52–4.62 | 3.61–5.29 | 3.53–4.47 | 4.3–5.9 |
Hgb | 13.3–19.6 | 15.7–19.7 | 13.28–17.2 | 13.5–17.3 | 11.8–14.8 | 13-18.8 | 12.3-15.22 | 13-17.8 |
Hct | 39.4–58.1 | 46.9–59.5 | - | - | 39-50.6 | 39.6–56.9 | 39.7–49.2 | 39.1–53.5 |
MCV | 91.6-113.2 | 97.9-112.3 | 95.2-107.2 | 103.8–108 | 98.5-122.2 | 97.5-119.8 | 105.5-117.7 | 84.4–98.8 |
MCH | 30.5-38.02 | 30.2–40.6 | 31.6–36.2 | 32.2–35.4 | 28.5–36.7 | 31.7–40 | 32.1–36.8 | 27.9–33.1 |
MCHC | 31.48–36.5 | 27-40.2 | 31.7–34.9 | - | 28.1–31.4 | 30.1–35.2 | 29.03–32.86 | 31.7–34.5 |
Platelet | 132.7–413 | 178.2–297 | 165.6-288.2 | 223–347 | 152.9-297.3 | 131–383 | 207–328 | 129–607 |
Lymphocyte % | 14.2–58.3 | 16.5–37.1 | 23.7–46.7 | - | - | - | 29.6-49.98 | 27.8–49.6 |
Neutrophil percentage | 36.7–79.5 | 50.3–74.1 | 51.5–74.7 | - | - | - | 39.8–62.2 | 45.9–67.7 |
Lymphocyte absolute | 2.16–10.3 | - | - | 3.3–6.9 | - | 1.14–8.46 | - | - |
Neutrophil absolute | 2.96–13.54 | - | - | 4.7–10.7 | - | 1.12–10.2 | - | - |
The 95th percentile RI of the current study lower limit of RBC was lower than studies conducted in Saudi Arabia and Sagamu Nigeria. On the contrarily, the higher limit of 95th percentile RI of Hgb value of this study was higher than is a study was done in Logas Nigeria, Iran, Iraq and Sagamu Nigeria. The difference of Hgb value might be due to method variation, inclusion criteria of the study participants and time of cord clamping. Similarly, the higher limit of 95th percentile RI of both WBC and platelet values were higher than in the study conducted in Nepal, Pakistan, Logas Nigeria, Iran and Iraq (17–19, 23, 24).
The platelet counts of this study range from (132.7–413) x109/L. Based on our finding less than 132 × 109/L is thrombocytopenia and greater than 413 × 109/L is thrombocytosis for newborn babies. The lower limit of platelet counts in the current study were consistent to a study reported from Mashhad, Iran (19) (131 × 109/L). However, the higher limit of the current study was higher in this study done by Marwaha et al (142 × 109/L) (25). The major limitation of this study was nucleated RBC is not corrected when total WBC was counted at the time of analysis.