Basophil counts on the technicon H*1 automated counter.
The precision, accuracy, stability and clinical usefulness of the basophil count of a Technicon H*1 automated blood cell counter were assessed and a reference range for the absolute basophil count was derived. As expected, the precision was considerably better than that of a manual count but it was worse than would have been expected if the only inaccuracy were the random error consequent on the number of cells counted. Accuracy was sufficient for the count to be of some clinical use but an elevated 'basophil' count was more often consequent on 'pseudo-basophilia' than on true basophilia. As a consequence it is necessary to confirm elevated counts by microscopic examination of a blood film whenever the presence of an elevated count is diagnostically important. The basophil count was stable for up to 3 days, both at room temperature and at 4 degrees C. The reference range was 0.02-0.09 x 10(9)/I. An elevated 'basophil' count serves to alert the instrument operator to the presence of an abnormal blood sample. Since the technology used to count basophils is the same in H*1, H*2 and H*3 instruments, our results can be generalized to other instruments in the series.
Davies
S
S
Department of Haematology, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
Bain
B J
BJ
D001491:Basophils / Q000166:cytology*; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values