70-year old female patient with mismatch between hematocrit and hemoglobin values: the effects of cold agglutinin on complete blood count.

INTRODUCTION: There are a number of pre-analytical and analytical factors, which cause false results in the complete blood count. The present case identifies cold agglutinins as the cause for the mismatch between hematocrit and hemoglobin values.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: 70-year old female patient had a history of cerebrovascular diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. During routine laboratory examination, the patient had normal leukocyte and platelet counts; however, the hemoglobin (Hb: 105 g/L) and hematocrit (HCT: 0.214 L/L) results were discordant. Hemolysis, lipemia and cold agglutinin were evaluated as possible reasons for the mismatch between hematocrit and hemoglobin values.
RESULTS: First blood sample was slightly hemolysed. Redrawn sample without hemolysis or lipemia was analyzed but the mismatch became even more distinct (Hb: 104 g/L and HCT: 0.08 L/L). In this sample, the titration of the cold agglutinin was determined and found to be positive at 1:64 dilution ratios. After an incubation of the sample at 37°C for 2 hours, reversibility of agglutination was observed.
CONCLUSION: We conclude that cold agglutinins may interfere with the analysis of erythrocyte and erythrocyte-related parameters (HCT, MCV, MCH and MCHC); however, Hb, leukocyte and platelet counts are not affected.

Introduction

The use of automated hematology analyzers to examine complete blood count (CBC) is very common. The CBC is applied to diagnose anemia, to identify acute and chronic illness, bleeding tendencies and white blood cell disorders by both general practitioners and other medical specialties. There are a number of pre-analytical and analytical factors that cause false CBC results. Red blood cell (RBC) counts, hemoglobin (Hb), mean cell volume (MCV), white blood cell (WBC) count and platelet (PLT) count are parameters measured by hematology analyzers that are affected by spurious values in several situations. These situations commonly include the agglutination in the presence of ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA), insufficiently lysed RBC, erythroblast, platelet aggregates, cryoglobulins, agglutinins, lipids, hemolysis, and elevated WBC counts (1).

In the present case, we evaluated cold agglutinins as a reason for the mismatch between hematocrit and hemoglobin values. There are several case studies associated with cold agglutinins; however, these studies have been generally presented in a clinical perspective. Laboratory findings were also not sufficiently available in these studies. Only few cases have recently drawn attention to the importance of pre-analytical affect of cold agglutinins on CBC results (2,3). To our knowledge, the present study is also a unique case report of spurious CBC results associated with cold agglutinins using the ABX Pentra 80 (Horiba Medical, Montpellier, France) hematology analyzer.

Materials and methods

Case history

An anticoagulated blood sample (K3EDTA, 2 mL, Golden Vac-Tube, GongDong Medical Technology Co., Zhejiang, China) drawn from a 70-year old female patient was analyzed during routine laboratory examination. Patient had WBC 7.1 × 109/L and PLT count 327 × 109/L; however, hemoglobin (Hb: 105 g/L) and hematocrit (HCT: 0.214 L/L) results were discordant [if Hb value (mg/dL) is multiplied by three, it gives ± 3 HCT value (%)], as shown in Table 1 (Sample 1). Blood samples have been transferred from patient’s home to our laboratory after routine examination by a family physician. Patient had a history of cerebrovascular diseases and rheumatoid arthritis.

Table 1.

The results of CBC analysis in different samples.

	Sample 1	Sample 2	Sample 3	Sample 3a	Sample 3b
RBC (× 1012/L)	1.86	0.65	3.26	0.45	0.46
Hb (g/L)	105	104	100	109	105
HCT (L/L)	0.214	0.080	0.298	0.058	0.061
MCV (fL)	115	123	91	127	133
MCH (pg)	56.4	159.8	30.8	239.9	229
MCHC (g/L)	491	1295	337	1884	1724
PLT (× 109/L)	327	364	324	325	328
WBC (× 109/L)	7.1	6.9	7.7	7	6.8

Sample 1: First sample with slight hemolysis; Sample 2: The sample transferred using the routine method without hemolysis or lipemia; Sample 3: The sample transferred without exposition to cold and analysed immediately; Sample 3a: Sample 3 analysed after placing the sample at 4 °C for 30 min; Sample 3b: Sample 3 analysed after placing the sample at room temperature for 1 hour.

RBC – red blood cells; Hb – hemoglobin; HCT – hematocrit; MCV - mean corpuscular volume; MCH - mean corpuscular hemoglobin; MCHC - mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; PLT – platelets; WBC – white blood cells.

We first suspected hemolysis. When the tube with K3EDTA was centrifuged at 500 × g for 3 minutes, slight hemolysis appeared. Thus, to rule out problems with blood sample drawing, the physician and phlebotomist were informed to redraw the tube with K3EDTA. One tube with K3EDTA was drawn by home health services in non-fasting state and a CBC was run, but the results were not corrected; in fact, the mismatch became even more distinct (Hb: 104 g/L and HCT: 0.08 L/L) (Sample 2 in Table 1). Moreover, the sample had not hemolysis or lipemia. We then suspected cold agglutinin. In this sample, the titer of cold agglutinin was determined and a peripheral blood smear was also prepared.

The determination of cold agglutinin titer

The titer of cold agglutinin was determined according to a previously described method (4). Ten tubes were prepared to determine the titration of cold agglutinins. 1.5 mL of physiologic saline was placed in tube 1 and 1.0 mL of physiologic saline in tubes 2–10. 0.5 mL of patient’s serum was added to tube 1, mixed and 1 mL of the mix was transferred to tube 2, from which 1.0 mL was then transferred to tube 3; the process was reiterated until tube 9 (tube 10 served as a cell control). By this method, dilutions from 1:4 to 1:1024 were obtained. 0.1 mL of patient’s own erythrocyte suspension (2–5%) was added to each tube, and the contents were mixed by vigorously shaking and then placed in racks at 4 °C overnight. Tubes were removed from the refrigerator and read immediately. Readings were made by shaking the tube 3–5 times, firmly enough to make a silk-like suspension in negative tests. The agglutination degree was recorded as 1+ to 5+, 1+ representing just visible agglutination and 5+, a solid clump of cells. After reading, tubes were placed at 37 °C for 2 hours and re-visualized.

Results

The titration of the cold agglutinin was found to be 4+ at 1:4 dilution ratio and 1+ at 1:64 dilution ratios. After incubation at 37 °C for 2 hours, reversibility of agglutination was observed. Thus, agglutination was confirmed as cold agglutinin.

As shown in Figure 1A, when the blood smear was examined under the microscope, clusters of erythrocytes were observed in each field.

Figure 1.

Peripheral blood smear, May-Grunwald-Giemsa stain, 1000×. A: Redrawn first sample with clusters of erythrocyte, B: Sample transferred without exposition to cold.

After obtaining these findings, an expert phlebotomist and specialist of medical biochemistry visited the patient to draw blood at her home. The drawn specimen in non-fasting state was immediately transferred to the laboratory. During transfer, the specimen had not been exposed to the cold. The flat plastic container (500 mL) had been filled with water warmed to approximately 40 °C. The specimen had been placed in this hot plastic container and transferred inside the Styrofoam box. The K3EDTA tube was immediately run on the hematology analyzer. It seemed that all the CBC results were valid (Sample 3 in Table 1). Clusters of erythrocyte were not observed in the blood smear prepared from this sample (Figure 1B). Subsequently, this specimen was placed at 4 °C for 30 min, and re-analyzed. Although leukocyte and platelet values were not changed, a mismatch between HCT and Hb was again observed (Sample 3a in Table 1). The specimen was then stored at room temperature for 1-hour and re-analyzed, but the results remained the same (Sample 3b in Table 1).

Discussion

Cold agglutinins are antibodies that are usually specific for I antigen, an erythrocyte surface carbohydrate macromolecule. Cold agglutinins bind to the erythrocyte surface antigen at a temperature optimum of 0–4 °C, which causes agglutination of erythrocytes and, thereby, impaired micro-circulation ranging from moderate acrocyanosis to severe Raynaud’s phenomenon (5). The antigen-antibody complex also induces the classical complement pathway, resulting in extravascular hemolysis. The physiologic cooling of blood in peripheral vessels is usually sufficient to cause hemolysis and circulatory symptoms in patients with high thermal amplitude of cold agglutinins (6). The clinical effects of cold agglutinins are dependent on both the titer and the thermal amplitude of antibody (7).

Cold agglutinins are rare and only low titers can be found in the serum of healthy individuals. Cold agglutinins may be monoclonal or polyclonal. Monoclonal antibodies are usually found in patients with idiopathic forms of cold agglutinin disease or lymphoproliferative disorders. Polyclonal antibodies usually appear after infection, most often with Mycoplasma pneumonia, Ebstein-Barr virus or cytomegalovirus (7).

Cold agglutinins can cause hemolysis in patients undergoing cardiac surgery during a hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Screening for cold agglutinin in all patients is not recommended; however, it can be useful in specific patient groups (8).

In the presence of cold agglutinins, we found decreased HCT and elevated MCV values. Hemoglobin concentration was unaffected by cold agglutinins, thereby, calculated MCH and MCHC values were prominently elevated. Leukocyte and platelet counts were also found to be unaffected by cold agglutinins. In the present case, the analysis of CBC was performed on ABX Pentra 80 hematology analyzer. RBC is measured by an electronic impedance variation principle on ABX Pentra 80. MCV and HCT are calculated directly from the RBC histogram. The impedance method of counting and sizing cells is based on measurable changes in electrical resistance produced by non-conductive cells suspended in conductive isotonic electrolyte solution. This electrical resistance is manifested as a pulse that has a height directly proportional to the cell size. Red blood cells, platelets and leukocytes are counted and sized according to the total number and heights of produced pulses (9). Cells between 30 to 300 fL are considered and counted as red blood cells on Horiba ABX Pentra. The micro-aggregates of erythrocyte are counted as single cells and large clumps of cells are excluded from the count, which lead to decreased RBC count (9). These abnormal RBC values will lead to abnormal MCV and HCT results.

We met with the present case in winter. Therefore, the cold agglutinin forming might be the result of the fact that blood samples were exposed to cold weather during transfer from patient’s home to our laboratory. When the patient’s previous results were reviewed, CBC results were found to be valid. This is most likely due to drawing the blood samples at the hospital, without exposure to cold. In addition, we found that CBC results were valid if the blood drawn from the patient was immediately transferred to the laboratory without being exposed to cold.

The interference of cold agglutinin on RBC and HCT results has previously been reported using an older automated hematology analyzer (10,11). It is seems that cold agglutinins can still cause artifactual changes on RBC and related parameters. This might be due to the counting of RBC by the impedance method, which is widespread among hematology analyzers produced different manufactures. In accordance with our case report, Kakkar (2) revealed spurious CBC results due to cold agglutinins on Advia 60 (Bayer diagnostics) hematology analyzer. In his report of two cases, he reported HCT to be spuriously low and discordant with Hb. MCV, MCH and MCHC values have also been found to be elevated.

Similarly, Breuer et al. (3) reported four patients with cold agglutinins whose RBC parameters described were incompatible and spurious. They showed that cold agglutinins caused artificially decreased red blood cell counts and increased MCV and MCHC in the automated Coulter STKS hematology analyzer. It was also noted that leukocyte and platelet counts remained unchanged. In a more recent case, Reddy et al. (12) reported elevated MCHC and MCV in a 12-year-old girl with mixed autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

The in vitro phenomenon of cold agglutination results in a spurious increase in MCV and MCHC and a decrease in the RBC count given by automated hematology analyzer; however, different findings have been reported in some clinical case reports.

In a 55-year old woman with a history of rheumatoid arthritis, Bizzaro et al. (13) presented in vitro platelet clumping due to EDTA-dependent autoantibodies and RBC agglutination due to cold agglutinins. Although they observed elevated MCHC in laboratory examination, the MCV value was reported as normal. In another study, Lee et al. (14) identified cold agglutinin in a case of 75-year old woman patient with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. They identified RBC agglutination related to cold agglutinins; however, a normal MCHC value was reported. Laboratory methodology and findings were, unfortunately, not obtained from these studies. Therefore, a satisfactory comparison could not be done.

In conclusion, cold agglutinins interfere with the analysis of RBC and RBC-related parameters (HCT, MCV, MCH and MCHC); however, Hb, WBC and PLT counts are not affected. In addition, the presence of cold agglutinins is easily displayed by the cold agglutinin titer test. It is also visible in a blood smear. Also, the effect of cold agglutinin on CBC results may be prevented if the blood drawn from the patient is immediately transferred to the laboratory without exposure to cold. Lastly, clinicians should be aware of the fact that anemia diagnosis based on low HCT alone may be misleading.