Haematological reference values for the Basotho.

Haematological reference values for a defined population of healthy adult Basotho are presented, with appropriate statistical treatment of the data. The well-documented apparent neutropenia in Blacks was observed, as well as the apparent sex difference as regards lymphocytes. The importance of adequate health criteria is stressed, 42% of apparently normal females having low serum ferritin levels. This could lead to an error of 1 g/dl in the haemoglobin level at the lower limit of the reference value. Only 34% of the apparently healthy females met all the criteria for health.