Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: To assess the variation in reference values of Haematological parameters i.e Haemoglobin
(Hb), Total Leucocyte Count (TLC), Red Blood Cells (RBC) and Platelet Counts (PLT) in neonates of
Rawalpindi and to compare with the Western literature.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: It was a descriptive study carried out at Haematology department of Armed
Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi. The duration of study was 6 months and non-probability
sampling was adopted for consecutively selected 400 neonates. The sampling was done from MH, CMH,
HFH and SBBH, Rawalpindi The blood samples were analyzed using Sysmex Kx-21 automated
haematology analyzer for complete blood counts i.e Hb, TLC, RBC and PLT.
RESULTS: The mean reference values of RBC is 4.931012/l (SD= 0.54), TLC is 16 109 / l (SD=5.35) and
Platelet Counts is 258.499109/l (SD=70.5). These values were found to have higher values when compared
to the Western literature. However, the reference value of Hb is 14g/dl (SD=2.5) was found to have lower
values on comparison with the Western literature i.e 16.89 g/dl (SD=1.92). The mean reference value of RBC
according to Western study is 4.21012/l (SD=1.2), TLC is 12 109 / l (SD=7) and Platelet Counts is 200109/l
(SD=50).
CONCLUSIONS: The reference values of haematological parameters in neonates are different from those
implemented in our country (derived from the Western studies).
It is concluded that various maternal environmental, nutritional, ethnic, socioeconomic and cultural factors
do affect the values of haematological paremeter in neonate.
