Effects of age on common laboratory tests
Rock, R.C.
Geriatrics 39(6): 57-60
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0016-867X PMID: 6724306 Document Number: 241038
Factors that produce different reference intervals in common laboratory tests on elderly patients are discussed, as well as those tests in which the reference intervals of the elderly and young adults differ significantly (and the magnitude of the difference). Specific attention is given to common hematology and biochemical tests. It is pointed out that platelet counts do not significantly change, while test values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate do significantly increase with age (where values of up to 35 mm/hour can occur in the absence of disease in the elderly). It is noted that, while women have higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values at all ages, male-female differences decrease with aging; triglyceride levels, however, increase with aging, and the increase is greater in elderly women than in men. (wz)