Abstract: Objective To establish a reference intervals (RIs) of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCC-Ag) in healthy population in Nanning region and provide clinical evidence to support diagnosis and prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma. Methods A total of 10 197 reference individuals who joined a routine physical examination in the Health Management Center of Guangxi International Zhuang Medical Hospital from March 2019 to December 2021 were collected. The level of serum SCC-Ag was detected by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare the differences in serum SCC level between genders or adjacent age groups. The unilateral 95th percentile determined the upper limit of the RIs by the nonparametric method. Another 1 035 healthy subjects with the same conditions as the reference population were selected for refer- ence validation. Results The serum SCC-Ag level showed a skewed distribution (Z=0.08, P＜0.05). The serum SCC-Ag level of males was considerably higher than that of females. There was significant difference in serum SCC-Ag level between males aged 18-30 and 31-40, 51-60 and 61-90 (P＜0.05). There was significant difference in serum SCC-Ag level between females aged 18-30 and 31-40, 31-40 and 41-50, 51-60 and 61-90 (P＜0.05). The reference intervals of serum SCC-Ag was as follows: 0-1.64 ng/mL for males and females aged 18-30 years; 0-1.57 ng/mL and 0-1.70 ng/mL for males aged 31-60 years and 61-90 years, respectively; 0-1.50 ng/mL, 0-1.52 ng/mL and 0-1.42 ng/mL for females aged 31-40 years, 41-60 years and 61-90 years, respectively. Conclusions The RIs of serum SCC-Ag in healthy population in the Nanning region are successfully established according to different genders and ages.

Key words: squamous cell carcinoma antigen, reference interval, squamous cell carcinoma