Serum albumin reference interval in a group of apperently healthy Sri Lankan adults from Kandy district

Abstract

For clinical diagnosis and therapeutic management, clinicians have to be sure of the reference limits of the laboratory parameters. International guidelines recommend every laboratory to establish their own reference intervals for healthy individuals belong to a group of homogenous healthy population. Considering varied dietary habits, races and geographical differences in Sri Lanka, there is a need for a specific reference interval for Sri Lankan population. The aim of this study was to establish reference interval for albumin in 106 healthy Sri Lankan adults between 20 to 80 years of age in Kandy district. Ethical clearance for the study was obtained from Ethics Committee, Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya. Albumin was measured using bromocresol green method. Reference interval established considering 2.5th to 97.5th percentile for albumin was 3.35- 4.52 g/dl. The mean serum albumin concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher in males (4.02 ± 0.32 g/dl) than females (3.77 ± 0.25 g/dl). Therefore separate reference intervals are proposed for males (3.38- 4.66 g/dl) and females (3.27- 4.27 g/dl). The mean serum albumin concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher in age groups 21-30 years (3.96±0.30 g/dl) and 31- 40 years (3.91±0.035 g/dl) than other age groups (41-50 years, 3.77 ±0.25 g/dl; 51-60 years, 3.76 ±0.25 g/dl; >60 years, 3.78 ± 0.33 g/dl). Mean concentration of albumin in Muslims (3.76 g/dl) was significantly (p>0.05) lower than Tamils (3.92 g/dl), but mean albumin in Sinhalese (3.88 g/dl) showed no significant (p>0.05) differences with Tamils and Muslims. The mean value of albumin reported from Kenyann, Kuwaits, Rwanda and America are higher than the present study, possibly because of differences in the test procedure and ethnicity. Therefore each country should establish reference interval that are representative of local populations.