Selected Biochemical Values of Suitable Blood Donors at Kenyatta National Hospital

Background: Clinical values derived from groups of apparently normal individuals are used for the determination of reference ranges. Only individuals with good health are recruited as blood donors and so can form a suitable cohort for the development of reference intervals. Reference intervals are necessary in interpreting and making critical decisions in diagnostic and research purposes. In this cross-section study, male and female selected biochemical values were determined on blood donors attended to at Kenyatta national Hospital donor unit. Objective: To determine gender-based means, medians, 2.5th and 97.5th interquartile ranges of: aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransaminase, gamma-glutamyl transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total protein, albumin, and creatinine. Methods: A total of 202 blood donors aged between 18 and 60 years were recruited for the study. Of these 108 (53.5%) were females and the rest males. Social demographic data of the participants was captured in structured questionnaire form. Blood samples for the analytes were collected from the participants into red capped vacutainer for serum extraction. Serum samples were stored at ≤-18°C till testing. Analysis was done using standard laboratory methods. Obtained data was entered into SPSS version 21 where statistical analysis was done. Bootstrap methods were used to calculate means, medians and confidence intervals. The fit of distribution of the obtained data was determined using Shapiro-Wilk test with P > 0.05 indicating Gaussian distribution. Means, medians and 2.5th and 97.5th interquartiles were determined. Gender-based differences were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum test; P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Recruited males were majorly either in business or in formal employment (35.1%) and had tertially education (51.1%); while females were in business (45%) and had tertially education (43.5%). Males demonstrated significantly higher median values than females in: aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (T.Bil), direct bilirubin (D.Bil), albumin (ALB) and creatinine (CRT). Conversely, females demonstrated significantly higher values in total protein (TP). Conclusion: There exist gender-based disparities in biochemical reference intervals that need to be considered in the interpretation and making of accurate decisions in clinical practice and in research.