Reference ranges for extended parameters in complete blood count on the Abbott Alinity hq: assessment of quality and dynamics

Background:The complete blood count (CBC) is a widely used laboratory test incorporating new parameters that offer insights into blood cells' active production and maturation.Yet, reference values for a healthy population still need to be improved.These new parameters include white blood cell viability fraction, percentage of microcytic, macrocytic, hypochromic erythrocytes, hemoglobin content of reticulocytes (MCHr), immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF), among others, emerging as promising tools.The objective was to establish reference values for extended CBC parameters on the Alinity hq (Abbott Diagnostics, Santa Clara) in a healthy Mexican population.Methods: A prospective study was conducted at the University Hospital of the Universidad Autnoma de Nuevo Len from June to August 2022.Venous blood samples from healthy adult donors were analyzed using the Abbott Alinity hq analyzer.Results: 387 samples of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid K2 whole blood were evaluated; significant differences between genders were observed in 19 (52.7%) of the 36 conventional and investigational parameters.The reference ranges of the extended parameters that had statistical differences by gender were absolute count and percentage of reticulated platelets, platelet distribution width, plateletcrit, MCHr, and IRF.MCHr values were significantly higher in males than in females (27.56-36.94 vs. 26.70-35.76,respectively, p < 0.05).Conclusions: These extended research intervals provide a comparative basis for determining whether an individual's values fall within the expected reference ranges.Furthermore, these parameters could serve as reliable, non-invasive predictive markers in patients with thrombocytopenia or anemia, enhancing the clinical utility of the CBC.