Hematology Group Sets Duffy-Null Blood Reference Ranges

New adult and pediatric blood count ranges aim to prevent people with Duffy-null status from being wrongly flagged for neutropenia.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Allergies

Hematology Group Sets Duffy-Null Blood Reference Ranges

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The American Society of Hematology has established the first blood reference ranges for Duffy-null individuals, published in Blood Advances on November 5, 2026. Researchers at 23 US sites collected 1,412 samples to validate adult ranges and provide first pediatric data.

Why it matters

Under standard reference ranges, people with Duffy-null status may be inaccurately flagged as having neutropenia, a condition that can prompt unnecessary testing or concern. Duffy-null status affects more than 66% of people with African or Mediterranean ancestry in the US, so the change could reach a large share of patients.

The adult absolute neutrophil count range is 1.03 to 7.30 x10^9/L and the white blood cell range is 3.0 to 10.7 x10^9/L, based on 1,412 samples from Duffy-null individuals at 23 US sites. Reference intervals for infants under 6 months remain unestablished and need further study.

The players

American Society of Hematology

A professional medical society representing hematologists that established the new reference ranges for Duffy-null individuals.

The details

Researchers found that Duffy-null individuals have more neutrophils concentrated in body tissues and fewer circulating in the blood, where routine blood draws occur. Duffy-null status is identified through a simple blood test, and the new ranges account for this difference.

November 5, 2026: Reference ranges announced and published in Blood Advances.

Health Landscape

These are the first blood reference ranges built specifically for Duffy-null individuals, extending hematology's standard reference intervals that have long treated Duffy-null counts as outliers. The work shifts the field toward population-specific reference standards, reflecting that Duffy-null status is common among people of African and Mediterranean ancestry.

Duffy-null individuals may avoid unnecessary neutropenia flags if clinicians adopt the new ranges, reducing repeat testing and anxiety. The simple blood test that identifies Duffy-null status makes it practical for patients to ask whether their clinician uses these reference values.

The takeaway

If you have Duffy-null status, ask your clinician whether your blood counts are being interpreted against the new Duffy-null reference ranges. Mention your ancestry and test result so the correct standards are applied to your care.