What do hemolyzed whole-blood specimens look like? Analysis with a CellaVision DM96 automated image analysis system.

We planned an original study to investigate the morphological changes caused by spurious hemolysis of whole-blood samples, analyzed using an automated image analysis system. Seven whole-blood specimens anticoagulated with EDTA were pooled and divided in two aliquots. The former was left untreated, whereas the latter was subjected to mechanical hemolysis by forced aspiration with an insulin syringe. The complete blood cell count was performed on a Sysmex XE-2100, and the aliquots were then processed with CellaVision DM96. In spuriously hemolyzed samples, the main findings included a rarefaction of erythrocytes, the presence of a remarkable number of cellular debris, a greater degree of microcytosis and anisocytosis, the appearance of band neutrophils, a shift of values between lymphocytes and monocytes, and an increase in smudge cells, artifacts, and large platelets. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time that blood cell morphology may be consistently biased in spuriously hemolyzed whole blood and that the use of an automated image analysis system such as the CellaVision DM96 may be a suitable approach to identify spurious hemolysis in whole-blood specimens.