The study aimed to establish Complete Blood Count reference intervals (RIs) for the population served by the South-West Regional Health Authority, and determine if there were differences between the developed RIs and the currently used manufacturer RIs adopted from the Coulter Corporation.

 

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Blood Bank Department of San Fernando General Hospital, Trinidad. Using convenience sampling, a total of 366 blood donors (198 males and 168 females) who passed the donor and health screening tests and contributed a unit of blood to the Blood Bank, agreed to have their residual blood used in the study.

 

Sampling collection and handling followed standard operating procedures. SPSS software was used for nonparametric statistical analysis such as the Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test and Pearson's Correlation. RIs were established for all participants after double-checking outliers with grossly abnormal test results. RIs for twenty parameters were developed which reflected red blood cells, white blood cells (WBC), and platelet values.

 

Differences were seen between the developed RIs and the manufacturer's RIs in all twenty parameters. The upper limits for WBC, neutrophil, and eosinophil were greater for males and females compared to the manufacturer's RIs. Haemoglobin lower limits for males and females (12.70 g/dL and 11.02 g/dL) respectively, were lesser than the manufacturer's RIs (13.60 g/dL and 11.70 g/dL). The observed differences may have been due to genetic adaptation, poor nutritional status, and increased exposure to allergens and parasitic infections. Population-specific RIs should be developed to improve patient treatment and management. Further investigations are required to determine if there are population differences within other blood test profiles.

 

Ms Korish Megan Ramsubhag has worked in both the private and public health sectors for twelve years. She began working as a phlebotomist and medical laboratory technologist in a private laboratory then transitioned into the public healthcare system at the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA). As an employee at the SWRHA she has held the positions of Phlebotomist, Medical Laboratory Technologist I, and most recently, Medical Laboratory Technologist II.  

Ms Ramsubhag holds certifications as a Phlebotomy Technician and a Point of Care Specialist from American Medical Technologists and the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, respectively. Having an interest in the Health Sciences she also possesses a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Medical Laboratory Technology from the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT), as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management from the Australian Institute of Business. She is presently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Health Administration with which she hopes to contribute to improving the performance of clinical laboratories in the south-western health sector.

 

Ms Ramsubhag has an unwavering passion for healthcare and laboratory development, and she intends to positively affect laboratory standards and bring them closer to the gold standard, through her research and experience.