HEMATOLOGY & HEMOSTASIS CASE STUDIES AND WHITE PAPERS

Hematology analyzers count and characterize blood cells for the screening and monitoring of disease. Analyzers vary in capabilities, sophistication and detection technologies. Since their invention in the 1950s, automated hematology analyzers have become increasingly sophisticated, allowing more precise and accurate CBC and WBC differential results.

The Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most frequently performed laboratory tests. Many diseases can cause abnormalities in the Red Blood Cell (RBC) count; therefore, RBC concentration, as part of CBC, is frequently used in the diagnostic phase for many conditions and as a screening test. Review the technologies hematology analyzers utilize for counting and measuring volumes of RBCs.

The platelet (PLT) count plays a critical role for the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of patients with many hematological and non-hematological diseases. Inaccuracy in PLT counting can have significant clinical impact, especially at the transfusion trigger levels. If the PLT count is falsely elevated, it could result in a missed PLT transfusion. On the other hand, if the PLT count is falsely decreased, it may lead to unnecessary PLT transfusion with all the hazards associated with it.

Since the first paper discussing the use of Sigma metrics in clinical laboratories was published in 2000, the concept of measuring analytical performance on the Sigma scale has been gaining popularity. The Six Sigma quality management system provides an objective estimate of quality based on defined tolerance limits. However, there are challenges associated with the use of Sigma metrics in the clinical laboratory, particularly in the hematology laboratory. As with any tool, its usefulness depends on proper use and interpretation.

As modern hematology laboratories may use various types of hematology analyzers depending on workload, technical resources, and staff, it is important for the user to understand inter-platform variability. This study has shown negligible inter-platform variability between the three studied instruments; CELL-DYN Emerald 22, CELL-DYN Ruby and CELL-DYN Sapphire, and demonstrated substantial equivalence of hematology results between them.