Performance and abnormal cell flagging comparisons of three automated blood cell counters

Abstract

Objectives: To compare two hematological analyzers-the DxH-800 (DxH; Beckman-Coulter, Miami, FL) and XN-2000 (XN; Sysmex, Kobe, Japan)-with the Cell-Dyn Sapphire (SAPH; Abbott, Santa Clara, CA). Methods: We analyzed 4,375 samples. Slide reviews were made in the presence of blast, abnormal lymphocyte, and immature granulocyte (IG) flags or nucleated RBC (NRBC) count. Results: The analyzers exhibited excellent correlations for CBC and neutrophils but displayed a limit correlation for lymphocytes. The XN did not miss circulating blasts (0.5%-95% in microscopy). For NRBCs, the XN demonstrated a sensitivity of 90%; DxH, 74%; and SAPH, 29%. Only the XN demonstrated a correlation with microscopy, permitting a WBC six-part differential until 15% of NRBCs. The XN and DxH gave useful IG counts with a cutoff less than 5% and a WBC level more than 2,500/mm3. For abnormal lymphocytes detection, only XN demonstrated sensitivity of more than 95%, but its specificity of 54% requires adaptation. Conclusion: The XN increases the sensitivity of abnormal cell detection compared with the other counters, permitting a seven-part differential between predefined levels, decreasing the slide review from 20% to 9%. © American Society for Clinical Pathology.