Reference intervals for absolute and percentage immature platelet fraction using the Sysmex XN-10 automated haematology analyser in a UK population

Abstract

Background: Immature platelet fraction (IPF) estimation is a non-invasive and sensitive test that is available on recently introduced Sysmex XN-series of automated haematology analysers. It is a direct cellular indicator of thrombopoiesis. The aim of this study was to establish reference intervals for IPF, for both absolute (A-IPF) and percentage (%-IPF) measurements.

Material and methods: A total of 2366 samples that met the inclusion criteria were assayed for full blood count on the Sysmex XN-10 and a non-parametric percentile method was used for calculating the reference intervals.

Results: After the outliers were excluded, the reference interval for %-IPF and A-IPF on Sysmex XN-10 were 1.6–10.1% and 4.37–23.21 × 10⁹/L in total individuals, respectively. There was a statistical significance noted between the sexes (p = .004) for %-IPF, therefore a sex-specific reference interval was established, which was 1.8–10.0% for the males and 1.5–10.1% for females. No significant difference in sex status for A-IPF and age status for both %-IPF and A-IPF was observed. A very poor correlation was estimated between age versus %-IPF, ρ = 0.0156, and age versus A-IPF, ρ = −0.0023, indicating that there is no overall biological relationship between age and these parameters. As expected, a strong correlation between %-IPF and A-IPF was noted which could be attributed to their inter-relatedness.

Conclusions: This large-scale study showed comparable reference intervals with the previous studies for %-IPF and A-IPF in a UK population. It found the need to establish sex-specific reference intervals for %-IPF, but not for A-IPF, whereas reference intervals were found to be stable across the age range.

Keywords:

• Reference values
• blood platelet
• haematology
• thrombocytopenia
• blood cell count
• haematologic tests
• haematologic diseases
• clinical laboratory techniques
• clinical laboratory services
• UK

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the staff at the Department of Haematology at Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for their assistance during this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.