Normal hematological values of the African neonate.

A longitudinal study of normal hematological values of the newborn infant was undertaken in an effort to provide baseline data for assessing the African Neonate with hematological problems. There were 402 neonates, consisting of 304 full-term, 51 preterm and 47 post-term infants. The Hematocrit (Hct), Hemoglobin (Hb), Red Blood Cell Count (RBC), Reticulocyte count (Retic) and Nucleated Red Blood Cell Count (NRBC) were serially determined.

The limits of physiological anemia in the African neonate.

In order to determine the limits of physiological anemia in the African neonate, the hematological values of 402 healthy neonates were determined. It was observed that although the African neonate had much lower hematological values at birth when compared with their North American and European counterparts, the eventual nadir reached is approximately the same. The hematocrit, hemoglobin and red blood cell count of preterm infants on the first day of life were comparable to those of full-term and postterm infants.

Pattern of leukocytes in the blood of healthy African neonates.

Serial leukocyte counts were performed on 107 full-term, 40 preterm and 35 postterm African neonates during the first 4 weeks of life. In addition, WBC differential counts were done on 85 of these neonates, selected randomly. Both the absolute and relative amounts of each cell type were determined.