title: Reduction of intra- and interlaboratory variation in CD34+ stem cell enumeration using stable test material, standard protocols and targeted training. DK34 Task Force of the European Working Group of Clinical Cell Analysis (EWGCCA).
abstract: The European Working Group on Clinical Cell Analysis (EWGCCA) has, in preparation for a multicentre peripheral blood stem cell clinical trial, developed a single-platform flow cytometric protocol for the enumeration of CD34+ stem cells. Using this protocol, stabilized blood and targeted training, the EWGCCA have attempted to standardize CD34+ stem cell enumeration across 24 clinical sites. Results were directly compared with participants in the UK National External Quality Assessment Scheme (NEQAS) for CD34+ Stem Cell Quantification that analysed the same specimens using non-standardized methods. Two bead-counting systems, Flow-Count and TruCount, were also evaluated by the EWGCCA participants during trials 2 and 3. Using Flow-Count, the intralaboratory coefficient of variation (CV) was </= 5% in 39% of the laboratories (trial 1), increasing to 65% by trial 3. Interlaboratory variation was reduced from 23.3% (trial 1) to 10.8% in trial 3. In trial 2, 70% of laboratories achieved an intralaboratory CV </= 5% using TruCount, increasing to 74% for trial 3; the interlaboratory CV was reduced from 23.4% to 9.5%. Comparative analysis of the EWGCCA and the UK NEQAS cohorts revealed that EWGCCA laboratories, using the standardized approach, had lower interlaboratory variation. Thus, the use of a common standardized protocol and targeted training significantly reduced intra- and interlaboratory CD34+ cell count variation.
authors.affiliation: UK NEQAS for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping, Department of Haematology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. d.barnett@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Granger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kraan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Whitby
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Gratama
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000276:immunology*; D002452:Cell Count; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D015588:Observer Variation; D012015:Reference Standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34