Effect of storage on blood count variables in small samples.
The effects on haematological variables of mail transport, and storage at room temperature and 4 degrees C over a period of 72 h, were observed on 186 'micro' samples of venous and skin puncture blood. White cell, red cell, haemoglobin, MCH and platelet values were sufficiently stable for clinical purposes, but haematocrit, MCV and MCHC values were unstable in samples stored at room temperature. These findings indicate that for the most important haematological variables stored or mailed 'micro' samples are neither more nor less reliable than larger volumes of venous blood, despite the potential for evaporation and over-anticoagulation with small samples.
Department of Haematology, Children's Hospital, Sheffield, England, UK.
G J
GJ
Bellamy
R F
RF
Hinchliffe
D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D013048:Specimen Handling