Investigation and Analysis of Reference Intervals and Decision Limits of Reticulocyte Count in China / 现代检验医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate and analyze the current situation of reference intervals and decision limits of reticulocyte count in China.Methods The information related to upper/lower limits,decision limits,data resources,method principles, instruments and reagents of reticulocyte count in 2014 was collected via the external quality assessment software system based on website.The participants were divided according to their methods and instruments.The SPSS 1 9.0 was used for conducting the data analysis and statistics of results for each group.Results There were 276 laboratories submitting the val-id results.The major resources for reference intervals came from national guide to clinical laboratory procedures (53.99%), instructions of instrument manufacturers (16.30%),textbook (9.78%),instructions of reagents manufacturers (9.06%) and others.The major resources for decision limits were national guide to clinical laboratory procedures (56.06%),instruc-tions of instrument manufacturers (16.67%),textbook (7.58),instructions of reagents manufacturers (7.58%)and others. The medians and averages of upper/lower limits and decision limits among subgroups were close,whereas the P2.5 and P97.5 were significant discrepancies.Only 45.65% and 48.48% of participant laboratories had verified reference intervals and deci-sion limits before clinic use.The lower limits and decision limits among subgroups had nostatistical difference (P>0.05), where as the upper limits of different instrument groups had significant differences (P<0.001).Conclusion The current situation of reference intervals and decision limits of reticulocyte count is unsatisfactory.It is certain to establish a uniformed reference interval and decision limits for reticulocyte count,which provides a reference for the standardization of reticulocyte count testing.