Pediatric reference intervals for 32 routine biochemical markers using the siemens healthineers atellica® CH assays in healthy children and adolescents

Background: Pediatric reference intervals are essential for test interpretation. With development of newer analytical systems, de novo reference interval establishment is of necessary importance. In the current study, pediatric reference intervals were determined for 32 analytes using Siemens Healthineers Atellica (R) CH assays in the CALIPER cohort of healthy children and adolescents. Methods: Approximately 600 healthy children and adolescents were recruited with informed consent and collected serum samples were analyzed on the Siemens Healthineers Atellica (R) CH platform. Assays studied included enzymes, proteins, lipids, electrolytes, and additional markers Reference intervals were established according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Results: Of the 32 parameters, 26 required age partitioning and 18 required sex partitioning. Reference value distributions included consistent increases, decreases, and dynamic variation across the age continuum. Chloride, LDL cholesterol, glucose, lipase, sodium, and triglyceride demonstrated no age or sex-specific differences. Conclusion: The current study expands the clinical utility of the CALIPER database to include 32 Siemens Atellica (R) chemistry assays. Reference value distributions for Siemens assays mirrored those observed on other comparable assays/systems with few exceptions (e.g. lipase, direct and total bilirubin). These finding support the robustness of previously derived reference intervals in the CALIPER cohort and other global cohorts.

Automated summary

The current study established pediatric reference intervals for 32 analytes using Siemens Healthineers Atellica (R) CH assays in healthy children and adolescents of the CALIPER cohort. The study found consistent increases, decreases, and dynamic variations across the age continuum for most parameters, with few exceptions such as lipase and bilirubin. The reference value distributions for Siemens assays were generally in line with other comparable assays/systems, supporting the robustness of derived reference intervals in the CALIPER cohort and other global cohorts.