REFERENCE LIMITS FOR ROUTINE HEMATOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS IN 7-YEAR-OLDTO 14-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN LIVING AT AN INTERMEDIATE ALTITUDE (1869 M, ERZURUM, TURKEY)

In order to obtain reference limits, complete blood counts were perfor med using an automated haematology analyser (Cell-Dyn 1500) on venous blood samples from 718 healthy children living at 1869 m altitude. At first, to obtain appropriate populations for obtaining reference value s, the factors of per capita income, parental educational status and a ntecedent infection(s) were assessed with respect to their effects on each parameter. Of the subgroups classified according to these factors , those which were affected in terms of haematological values were exc luded. The effects of age and sex on the parameters were evaluated, an d reference values were arranged according to age groups to facilitate clinical use. Among the reference values which we suggest for childre n living at about 2000 m altitude, those of haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cell count and mean cell volume are significantly higher tha n sea-level values. In addition, our results indicate that intermediat e altitude has no effect on other routine haematological values.