Abstract
Thirty normal, term neonates had venous and warmed heelstick capillary blood collected at 4 hours (Day 1) and 24-28 hours (Day 2) of age for determination of total neutrophil counts (TNC), immature neutrophil counts (INC), immature to total neutrophil ratio (INC/TNC), and hemoglobin concentration (Hgb). Order of collection of specimens was randomized, and no significant difference was noted between variables in order of collection. Therefore, results were pooled for statistical evaluation.
Day 1 capillary TNC (mean 10,400±4400 cells/mm3) were significantly different from Day 1 venous TNC (mean 8200±3800 cells/mm3) when evaluated by the paired T-test (p<.001). Day 2 capillary TNC (mean 9800±3400 cells/mm3) were also significantly different from Day 2 venous TNC (mean 8700±3300 cells/mm3) (p<.005). Regression analysis on capillary and venous TNC for both days showed highly significant correlation (r=0.81, p<.001). Values for capillary Hgb (Day 1 mean 19.2±1.6 gm/dl; Day 2 mean 18.1±1.8 gm/dl) and venous Hgb (Day 1 mean 17.6±1.5 gm/dl; Day 2 mean 17.3±1.7 gm/dl) also differed significantly (p<.001). No significant differences between capillary and venous values were found for INC or INC/TNC ratios.
Our data show that venous TNC are significantly lower than capillary TNC. Thus, reference values for neonatal TNC based on capillary sampling may lead to misinterpretation of TNC performed on venous blood.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Peevy, K., Hoff, C. & Grant, P. 1391 DIFFERENCES IN CAPILLARY AND VENOUS SAMPLING FOR NEONATAL NEUTROPHIL COUNTS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 675 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01420
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01420