Accuracy of Platelet Counting by Optical and Impedance Methods in Patients with Thrombocytopaenia and Microcytosis
Journal Title: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal - Year 2015, Vol 15, Issue 4
Abstract
Objectives: Obtaining accurate platelet counts in microcytic blood samples is challenging, even with the most reliable automated haematology analysers. Te CELL-DYN™ Sapphire (Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, Illinois, USA) analyser uses both optical density and electronic impedance methods for platelet counting. Tis study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of optical density and electrical impedance methods in determining true platelet counts in thrombocytopaenic samples with microcytosis as defned by low mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of red blood cells. Additionally, the impact of microcytosis on platelet count accuracy was evaluated. Methods: Tis study was carried out between February and December 2014 at the Haematology Laboratory of the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Muscat, Oman. Blood samples were collected and analysed from 189 patients with thrombocytopaenia and MCV values of <76 femtolitres. Platelet counts were tested using both optical and impedance methods. Stained peripheral blood flms for each sample were then reviewed as a reference method to confrm platelet counts. Results: Te platelet counts estimated by the impedance method were on average 30% higher than those estimated by the optical method (P <0.001). Te estimated intraclass correlation coefcient was 0.52 (95% confdence interval: 0.41–0.62), indicating moderate reliability between the methods. Te degree of agreement between methods ranged from -85.5 to 24.3 with an estimated bias of -30, suggesting that these methods generate different platelet results. Conclusion: Te impedance method signifcantly overestimated platelet counts in microcytic and thrombocytopaenic blood samples. Further attention is therefore needed to improve the accuracy of platelet counts, particularly for patients with conditions associated with microcytosis.
Authors and Affiliations
Mohamed-Rachid Boulassel| Departments of Allied Health Sciences, Haematology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Raya Al-Farsi| Department of Haematology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, Sulaiman Al-Hashmi| Departments of Genetics, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Hamad Al-Riyami| Departments of Genetics, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Hammad Khan| Department of Haematology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, Salam Al-Kindi| Departments of Haematology , College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University
Factors Affecting the Quality of Diabetic Care in Primary Care Settings in Oman A qualitative study on patients’ perspectives
Objectives: Te quality of services delivered to type 2 diabetic patients in primary health care has an important impact on long-term outcomes. Te aim of this study is to explore diabetic patients’ views of factors aï...
Decisions to Perform Emergency Caesarean Sections at a University Hospital Do obstetricians agree?
Objectives: Tis study was undertaken to assess the degree of agreement amongst obstetricians regarding decisions to perform emergency Caesarean section (CS) procedures at a university hospital. Methods: Tis retrospecti...
Effect of single mismatches at 3′–end of primers on polymerase chain reaction
Objective and Method – To investigate the effect of three different mismatches (G/T, G/A or G/G) at the 3•– end of a primer to amplify a 268 bp (base pair) region of the human •–globin gene using different anne...
Diabetes Care in Oman Obstacles and solutions
Diabetes has become one of the most challenging chronic diseases with its prevalence increasing in most countries worldwide. Te Arabian Gulf countries face a similar increasing prevalence of diabetes. Diabetes care req...
Mechanisms of Diabetes-Induced Liver Damage The role of oxidative stress and inflammation
Diabetes mellitus is a non-communicable disease that occurs in both developed and developing countries. Tis metabolic disease affects all systems in the body, including the liver. Hyperglycaemia, mainly caused by insu...