Haematology Parameters of Apparently Healthy Prospective Whole Blood Donors in a Nigerian Hospital Setting

Background: Adequate selection of a prospective whole blood donor protects his health and safety of the recipient. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to determine the haematology parameters of apparently healthy prospective whole blood donors. Participants and Methods: This was a hospital based prospective study carried out from August to October 2020 at the blood transfusion unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Nigeria. A structured pretested questionnaire was used for data collection. The socio demographic status and the haematology parameters of apparently healthy prospective whole blood donors who tested negative for HIV, hepatitis B and C markers were captured. Obtained data were analysed with the statistical package for the social scientist software version 20. Results: One hundred male (97.1%) and three female (2.9%) apparently healthy prospective whole blood donors were studied. The median age of study subjects was 30 years. Obtained median haematology parameter values were 13 g/dl, 40%, 4.9/nl and 203.9/nl for haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, total white cell and platelet counts respectively. The median values for the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of participants were 32.6 g/dl, 27.7 pg and 85.7 fl respectively. Observed prevalence of subnormal haematology parameters for haemoglobin concentration, total white cells, platelets were 12.6%, 25.2%, and 13.6% respectively. Also subnormal values for MCHC, MCH, MCV were 11.7%, 26.2%, and 16.5% respectively among prospective whole blood donors in this study. No higher than normal haematology parameter values were observed. Median values for erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 8.4 mm/hr. Conclusion: A significant percentage of apparently healthy prospective whole blood donors had subnormal haematology parameters values. Obtained normal values in our study are comparable with local reference range reports from previous studies in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. 124947 .

The difference of immunologic parameters between SARS patients of mild type and severe type

The aim of this study is to study the difference of immunologic parameters between severe acute respiratory syndrome （SARS） patients of mild type and severe type. Data including white blood cell （WBC） count, lymphocyte count, CD3, CD4 and CD8 T lymphocyte count, levels of C3, C4, ESR （erythrocyte sedimentation rate） and CRP （C-reactive protein） from 1291 patients with SARS in each week from onset of illness were recorded. The clinical progress of each sign was analysed and the difference between mild type and severe type was compared. Lymphocyte count, CD8 T lymphocyte count declined in the first two weeks and recovered from the third week, while CRP and CA- levels rose in the first week and then recovered gradually. Lymphocyte count and CD8 T lymphocyte count of severe cases were much lower than that of mild type （P 〈 0.01）, while CRP and CA- levels in severe type were much higher than that of mild type （P 〈 0.01）. Lymphocyte count, CD8 T lymphocyte count, CRP and CA- levels are useful signs for the diagnosis of SARS of severe type and are valuable for the evaluation of its severity.