Cord blood full blood count parameters in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Full blood count (FBC), one of the most frequently requested for laboratory investigations, is a simple, fast and cheap test and is a reliable indicator of health. Due to its usefulness in the assessment of health status of individuals, its parameters in cord blood, a major source of haemopoietic stem cell transplantation and an ideal source for laboratory investigations for newborns were determined to provide a useful guide to local neonatologists and stem cell transplant physicians. METHODS: Three millilitres of umbilical cord blood was collected from 130 normal birth weight newborns (69 males and 61 females) whose cord were clamped immediately after delivery, at a teaching hospital in Lagos, Nigeria and full blood count parameters were determined using Sysmex autoanalyzer, model KX-21N. Consented mothers of the newborns were selected based on, age between 18 and 45 years; uneventful pregnancy and delivery and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration e" 10 g/dL. RESULTS: There were no statistical gender differences in the mean values of Hb concentrations (M=13.27 ,1.60 g/dL; F=13.32,1.61g/dL; p=0.93), total white cell count (M=3.16,5.43 , 109/L; F=13.07,4.98 , 109/L; p= 0.92), platelet count (M= 223.64, 64.21 , 109/L; F=226.69,80.83 , 109/L; p=0.81) and other parameters. CONCLUSION: Mean values of full blood count parameters obtained in this study are comparable to reports from other studies in developing countries and could be a useful guide for neonatologists and stem cell transplant physicians in our geographical location.

Keywords

• haemoglobin
• cord blood
• stem cell
• umbilical cord
• neonatologist