Performance of Hematology Analyzer and Peripherals Evaluated

The complete blood count and leukocyte differential count are the basic, most common tests in hematology laboratories. More tests can be performed at the same time; labor reduced, and results made more precise by an advanced automated hematology analyzer and slidemaker/stainer.

Reducing review of unnecessary blood film without missing true abnormal samples is the goal of automated hematology analyzers, because manual review increases laboratory cost, labor, and turnaround time. For the same reason, automated slidemaker/strainers demand quick, high-quality blood films.

Hematologists at the Gachon University Gil Medical Center (Incheon, Korea) selected 408 samples to evaluate a new hematology analyzer. Samples were collected from patients who needed a peripheral blood smear test by physicians' recommendation and from patients who had regular checkups. Two hundred of 408 samples showed flags, and 208 samples did not show any flags by the regular analyzer used in the laboratory.

The scientists compared the CAL 8000 (Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co, Ltd, Shenzhen, China) which is a cellular analysis line consisting of the Mindray BC-6800, an automated hematology analyzer, and the Mindray SC-120, an automated slidemaker/stainer and compared the analyzer results with the data from the XE-2100 automated hematology analyzer (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan) and the slidemaker with a manual method.

The team reported that most parameters measured by the BC-6800 matched well with the XE-2100 and manual differential. The flag efficiency of the BC-6800 for blasts (95.3%) and atypical lymphocytes (92.6%) were higher while immature granulocytes (89.7%) and nucleated red blood cells (94.1%) were lower than that of the XE-2100. Additionally, the BC-6800 detected four of five samples infected with malaria parasites. The SC-120 showed no carry-over and expected repeatability. There was good agreement on the five-part differential including abnormal cells between blood films by the SC-120 and manually prepared blood films. The shape of the red blood cells (RBC) was also comparable between blood films.

The authors concluded that the performance of BC-6800 was comparable with the XE-2100, and has a further advantage of detecting infection of malaria parasite. The SC-120 agreed well with manual differential and morphology assessment although the SC-120 needed the adjustment for stain precipitate and steaks. Therefore, the CAL-8000 is effective for precise, fast hematology work, and has useful application for malaria endemic areas. The study was published on September 23, 2016, in the Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis.

Related Links:
Gachon University Gil Medical Center
Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics
Sysmex