Continuing developments with the automated platelet count

Abstract

The four main procedures for platelet counting are: manual phase contrast microscopy, impedance, optical light scatter/fluorescence and flow cytometry. Early methods to enumerate platelets were inaccurate and irreproducible. The manual count is still recognized as the gold standard or reference method, and until very recently the calibration of platelet counts by the manufacturers of automated cell counters and quality control material was performed by this method. However, it is time-consuming and results in high levels of imprecision. The introduction of automated full blood counters using impedance technology resulted in a dramatic improvement in precision. However, impedance counts still have limitations as cell size analysis cannot discriminate platelets from other similar-sized particles. More recently, light scatter or fluorescence methods have been introduced for automated platelet counting, but there are still occasional cases where an accurate platelet count remains a challenge. Thus, there has been interest in the development of an improved reference procedure to enable optimization of automated platelet counting. This method utilizes monoclonal antibodies to platelet cell surface antigens conjugated to a suitable fluorophore. This permits the possible implementation of a new reference method to calibrate cell counters, assign values to calibrators, and to obtain a direct platelet count on a variety of pathological samples. In future, analysers may introduce additional platelet parameters; a reliable method to quantify immature or reticulated platelets would be useful.