Plasma levels of the calcium-binding LI leukocyte protein: standardization of blood collection and evaluation of reference intervals in healthy controls

Abstract

Release of the calcium-binding protein LI from blood granulocytes in vitro was found to be strongly influenced by anticoagulants and was accelerated during blood clotting. EDTA effectively inhibited this release. The material of choice for obtaining base-line LI levels in blood is, therefore, EDTA plasma. Care should be taken to avoid admixture with cells from the buffy coat. The reference interval for LI concentrations in plasma was established by testing samples from 533 blood donors. The LI distribution proved in both sexes to be log-normal. The reference interval in females was 90 to 530 pig/1, and in males 120 to 660 ng/1. A positive correlation was found between the LI level and the white blood cell count (r=0.46, p=0.0001).

Key Words:

• blood collection
• LI protein
• normal values
• plasma concentration