Background: The recent introduction of new automated assays needs careful definition of reference values in healthy children. The aim of this study was to determine serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and osteocalcin in a large group of healthy children according to age.
Methods: We selected 2,288 healthy children (1,079 girls, 1,209 boys), aged 2-16 years. Serum PTH and osteocalcin were assayed with a two-site immunochemiluminometric assay adapted on an automated analyzer, the Liaison.
Results: Significant differences were found between the mean serum values of PTH and osteocalcin in boys and girls in all age groups (p <0.001). Boys' and girls' PTH values ranged from 3.42-22.30 ng/l and 2.31-24.49 ng/l, respectively; serum osteocalcin ranged from 3.85-17.80 nmol/l in boys and 3.74-17.38 nmol/l in girls.
Conclusions: The results of this study contribute to the establishment of reference values in healthy children for PTH and osteocalcin assays.