[Studies on the efficient application by STKS and 8200]

Abstract

We examined the usefulness of differential leukocyte counts provided by the automated STKS (Coulter) using the VCS method, the cell analyzer 8200 (Hitachi) using the image analysing as compared with that of the traditional manual method. In the STKS, about 8000 leukocytes can be counted within one minute and 5 part differential counts (neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, lymphocytes) are provided. The STKS may provided adequate identification of patients who have significant leukocyte abnormalities that require further study. Potential deficiencies of this system included an inability to detect abnormal lymphocytes such as ATL cells. In addition, low numbers of erythroblasts were missed, although these cells could be warned by a flagging system. In the cell analyzer 8200, the differential leukocyte count is done by the microscopic examination of stained blood films which is prepared by automatic device. Results from counts performed with this system correlated well with those obtained by the manual method. This system also missed low numbers of erythroblasts and ATL cells. Another potential deficiencies of the system is that number of cells observed within one minute were limited to about 100. When a prescribed set of cut-off limits, carefully chosen qualitatively, is introduced into these systems, automated leukocyte differential counts, with combination of STKS, 8200 and the manual method, clearly improve turn around time for laboratory blood assessments and this help to reduce unnecessary differential leukocyte counts by the manual method.