LQCL2305 - CMLE - AGE-SPECIFIC REFERENCE RANGES: WHY ARE THEY NECESSARY?-AGE-SPECIFIC REFERENCE RANGES: WHY ARE THEY NECESSARY?

AGE-SPECIFIC REFERENCE RANGES: WHY ARE THEY NECESSARY?

Pdf Summary

The document discusses the importance of age-specific reference ranges in clinical immunology, particularly for pediatric patients. It highlights how the immune system evolves from birth to adulthood, affecting the levels of various immune components. The establishment of accurate reference ranges involves testing healthy individuals representing diverse demographics. For example, immunoglobulin levels change significantly in newborns and young children, necessitating age-appropriate reference ranges for correct interpretation. The document illustrates how discrepancies in reference ranges can lead to misinterpretations in test results, emphasizing the need for using age-specific values for accurate diagnoses. Furthermore, the text emphasizes the dynamic nature of the immune system's development and the importance of understanding these changes in diagnosing immune-related disorders in pediatric patients. Lastly, it stresses the challenges laboratories face in obtaining adequate healthy control samples, especially from newborns and infants, to establish reliable reference ranges. Ultimately, accurate diagnosis and optimal patient care in clinical settings depend on utilizing age-specific reference ranges in interpreting laboratory test results.

Keywords

clinical immunology

age-specific reference ranges

pediatric patients

immune system evolution

immunoglobulin levels

accurate interpretation

immune-related disorders

laboratory test results

healthy control samples

optimal patient care