Reference ranges for thirteen biochemical parameters in Barbadian blood donors - abstract

ABSTRACT

At the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the reference ranges of thirteen (13) biochemical constituents in plasma where determined, using blood donors. Prior to the establishment of these reference ranges, we were using either the European or the North American reference ranges. Differences between the Barbadian population and both of these groups are expected since we have different diets and optimal nutritional standards. Significant differences were found to be present in the plasma potassium, albumin and urate levels (p<0.01). In Jmaica, it has been shown that a reversal of the usual albumin/globulin ratio is associated with the nutritional and infectious disease status of that population. The total protein and albumin ranges appear to be wide. This is not a reflection of the precision of the methods used, but may be due to the fact that we sampled a fairly large cross-section of the population, with varying dietary habits. The low potassium range need further investigation. It must, however, be mentioned that many of our patients have a plasma potassium value at the lower limits of the European and North American reference ranges without any apparent symptoms of hypokalaemia. The explanation for the low plasma potassium value may be dietary deficiency, as the traditional Barbadian diet in the lower socio-economic group is low in fresh fruits and vegetables (AU)