Artefactual elevation of an automated white cell count following femoral vein puncture.
We report the novel occurrence of an erroneous automated total and differential white blood cell count on a blood sample obtained by traumatic femoral venepuncture, caused by contamination of the blood sample with subcutaneous adipose tissue. The erroneous counts were observed on a Bayer-Technicon H2 analyser while counts on a Coulter GenS, were much less affected. Characteristic scatter plots from both instruments are illustrated.
Whiteway
A J
AJ
St Mary's Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK.
Bain
B J
BJ
D000368:Aged; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000009:adverse effects; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D011677:Punctures / Q000009:adverse effects