Estimation of Reference Range of Serum Protein Fractions in an Urban South Indian Population

Abstract

1 Associate Professor, 2 Lab Technician, 3 Undergraduate Student Dept of Biochemistry, St.John’s Medical College, Bangalore-560034, Karnataka, India Corresponding Author Dr Radhika Krishnaswamy Associate Professor, Dept of Biochemistry, St.John’s Medical College, Bangalore-560034, Karnataka India Email: lakdorai@gmail.com, Telephone: 9448352907 ABSTRACT Reference interval in a laboratory when applied to the population serviced by the laboratory includes most of the subjects with characteristics similar to the reference group to be identified as ‘healthy’ and excludes the others. The reference range and reference limits for various Biochemistry parameters has not been established in our Indian population. As on date, most of our laboratories are using the text book values, literature referred values or manufacturer’s reference value in the kit inserts. In India, like many other biochemical parameters the interpretation of serum protein fractions obtained by the electrophoresis and the total protein by Biuret method is usually dependent on the reference range which is mainly obtained from Western population. The aim of the present study is to determine the reference range of serum proteins fractions and total protein of a sample population attending a tertiary care center in Bangalore, Karnataka the by semi automated cellulose acetate electrophoresis method and Biuret method and to compare the newly obtained reference range of serum proteins with the currently used manufacturers reference range in the laboratory which is based on western population. The samples obtained from individuals coming for executive health check up at this tertiary care center were used for this study. Serum Total protein and other protein fractions were measured in the samples and reference range was determined. We found noticeable deviation in the new reference ranges of some parameters such as total protein, albumin, γ globulin from the manufacturers values. We conclude that the reference ranges observed in a small population in a city could be significantly different from the literature referred values and generating any such data for any biochemical parameters in more partitioned groups and larger sample size will be of great significance to the clinicians using such data during clinical intervention.