Clinical Chemistry Reference Intervals in a Rwandan Population.

ABSTRACT

Aim: To establish clinical chemistry reference intervals for the Rwandan population. Study Design: A population-based cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study The study was carried out in three blood transfusion centres Buhanda, Ruhango and Nyaruteja, between August and December 2011. Methods: Serum clinical chemistry tests were performed on a Cobas C311 automated chemistry analyzer. Results: Results of 187 subjects (age range 17-54 years) presented as median, with 2.5th-97.5th percentiles (95% reference interval) in brackets are as follows For males alanine aminotransferase 25 (12-43) U/L; aspartate aminotransferase 29 (16-47) U/L; gamma-glutamyl transferase 22 (9-77) U/L; total bilirubin 0.6 (0.2-1.7) mg/dL; direct bilirubin 0.2 (0.1-0.4) mg/dL; creatinine 0.8 (0.5-1.1) mg/dL; uric acid 5 (3-7) mg/dL. For males and females alkaline phosphatase 71 (27-122) U/L; amylase 144 (50-235) U/L; lactate dehydrogenase 176 (114-237) U/L; triglycerides 82 (32-172) mg/dL; highdensity lipoprotein 48 (29-86) mg/dL; glucose 87 (70-114) mg/dL; total protein 7.6 (6.5- 8.5) g/dL; albumin 4.4 (3.4-5.4) g/dL; sodium 142 (137-147) mmol/L; potassium 4.1 (3.3-5.0) mmol/L; chloride 106 (100-112) mmol/L; phosphate 1.16 (0.87-1.49) mmol/L. Conclusion: The clinical chemistry reference values are in agreement with those reported in other African studies, with variations.