COMPARISON OF SYSMEX-KX-21 WITH MANUAL METHODS: HEMOCYTOMETERY, SAHLI-HELLIGE AND MICROHEMATOCRITE METHODS IN QUANTITATIVE HEMATOLOGY ANALYSIS

Abstract

Background: The manual blood cell counting is currently replaced by automation hematology analyzers in many clinical laboratories. Sysmex is a discrete hematology analyzer designed for high-volume testing in clinical laboratories. Though automation is widely accepted and is on use in different health institutions in Ethiopia, it is not yet evaluated for precision and accuracy nor compared with manual methods. This study compared four manual hematology analysis methods with Sysmex kx-21.
Objective: To compare Sysmex-kx-21 hematology analyzer with manual hemocytometery (WBCs), Sahli-Hellige (hemoglobin
concentration), microhematocrit centrifuge method (hematocrit or packed cell volume) and the differential white blood cell
(WBC) count methods.
Methods: The white blood (WBC) cell enumeration, differential WBC count, hemoglobin and hematocrit results of three laboratory technicians (two manually and one by using Sysmex- kx-21) was compared. Blood samples from 130 patients and 30
students were collected between May and June, 2008. Each sample was investigated manually and by the SYSMEX-KX-21 automation. Data was registered and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2003 and SPSS version 13 computer software programs.
Results: There was no significant difference in the total WBC count between the two manual readers and between the two manual readers and the automation. The results of the three readers strongly matched on the total WBC count and hemoglobin
concentration. The result of the manual hematocrit readers was less correlated with the automation. The two manual readers
were almost not correlated on the lymphocyte differential WBC count.
Conclusions: The overall correlation of the manual methods to the automation can be graded as good. Standardizing the automation, combined use of manual methods with automation at higher health institutions and the use of manual methods by the
peripheral health unites are recommended