Automated lymphocyte counts vs manual lymphocyte counts in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

Abstract

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine if automated differential leukocyte counts (A-DIFF) can be used in place of manual differential leukocyte counts (M-DIFF) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Methods: Relative and absolute automated lymphocyte counts obtained from 83 specimens from 76 CLL patients were compared with corresponding manual counts obtained by performing differential on albuminized blood smears. Means and correlation coefficients were calculated using Excel software. Results: The mean relative lymphocyte count by automated method was 73.6% as compared to 75.6% by the manual method. The mean absolute lymphocyte count by automated method was 32.1 × 10 3/μL as opposed to 32.9 × 10 3/μL by the manual method. The correlation coefficients were 0.928 and 0.998 for the relative lymphocyte counts and absolute lymphocyte counts, respectively. Conclusion: Automated differential leukocyte counts can be used in place of M-DIFF in CLL.