Reference values for serum antistreptolysin O in Chinese adult men from a Chinese male population survey.

BACKGROUND

Numerous diseases come from streptococcal infection. The antistreptolysin O (ASO) test is the most widely used serological test for streptococcal infection applied for the clinical diagnosis. The aim of this study was to establish reference values for serum ASO in Han and Zhuang Chinese from a Chinese male population survey.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study in which 1,762 serum samples were collected between September 2009 and December 2009 from Chinese men aged 20 to 69 years. The reference values for serum ASO were measured with the immunonephelometric method on the Hitachi 7600 autoanalyzer.

RESULTS

Serum ASO values were not normally distributed but log normally distributed. The reference value was < or = 125.00 IU/mL for serum ASO. A significant decrease with age was found, and age-dependent reference values were calculated for serum ASO levels. The Zhuang and Han groups (p < 10(-3)) exhibited differences in serum ASO. There was no significant difference according to smoking (p = 0.718) and drinking (p = 0.388) in Zhuang. However, there was a significant difference between smoking and non-smoking (p < 10(-3)) in the Han ethnic group, whereas there was no significant difference between the non-drinking and drinking groups (p = 0.245).

CONCLUSIONS

The reference values for serum ASO for healthy adult men showed a huge deviation compared to the currently used reference value (200 IU/mL). Thus, the reference values for serum ASO should be established for different ethnic groups and regions.