Madelon Noordegraaf1, Paul Meijer1, Janneke Ruinemans-Koerts2. 1. Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands. 2. Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands. Electronic address: JRuinemans-Koerts@rijnstate.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several small studies showed that the WPC (white precursor cell) channel in the Sysmex haematology analyser for leukocyte differentiation analysis leads to a significant reduction of microscopic blood smears. We determined the added value of the WPC channel for blood smear reduction in a large teaching hospital and whether this reduction was cost-effective and save. METHODS: Retrospectively, for 7850 leukocyte differentiation orders the percentage of samples resulting in a WPC analysis and the outcomes of the WPC analysis were analysed and compared with the blood smear results. RESULTS: WPC analysis resulted in a 12% reduction of blood smears, which is much lower than observed in other studies. This means 3-4bloodsmears/day less of a total of 28smears/day at the expense of missing 14 patient samples with pathology (blasts or abnormal lymphocytes) in a 9weeks period. The estimated total costs of WPC analysis per year was more than the reduction in costs due to less blood smear reviews. CONCLUSIONS: In a large teaching hospital, the small reduction in blood smears by the WPC channel does not outweigh the costs and the slight reduction in sensitivity for pathology.
BACKGROUND: Several small studies showed that the WPC (white precursor cell) channel in the Sysmex haematology analyser for leukocyte differentiation analysis leads to a significant reduction of microscopic blood smears. We determined the added value of the WPC channel for blood smear reduction in a large teaching hospital and whether this reduction was cost-effective and save. METHODS: Retrospectively, for 7850 leukocyte differentiation orders the percentage of samples resulting in a WPC analysis and the outcomes of the WPC analysis were analysed and compared with the blood smear results. RESULTS: WPC analysis resulted in a 12% reduction of blood smears, which is much lower than observed in other studies. This means 3-4bloodsmears/day less of a total of 28smears/day at the expense of missing 14 patient samples with pathology (blasts or abnormal lymphocytes) in a 9weeks period. The estimated total costs of WPC analysis per year was more than the reduction in costs due to less blood smear reviews. CONCLUSIONS: In a large teaching hospital, the small reduction in blood smears by the WPC channel does not outweigh the costs and the slight reduction in sensitivity for pathology.