title: Quantification of red blood cell fragmentation by automated haematology analyser XE-2100.
abstract: The extent of red blood cell fragmentation in peripheral blood is useful for diagnosis and follow-up in many diseases, e.g. haemolytic uremic syndrome, transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (BMT-TMA). However, this quantification still relies on manual counting of fragmented red cells on blood smears. We have developed a quantification system by gating a fixed area of fragmented red blood cells (Gate 1) on an automated haematology analyser (XE-2100, Sysmex Co., Kobe, Japan). The fragmented red cell percentage (FRC%) calculated with this system, from 100 samples, was highly correlated with the manual count (r=0.902, P < 0.0001). Because microcytic anaemia specimens usually occupy a lower position on the XE-2100 scattergram, with microcytic cells overlapping Gate 1 and causing a spuriously high FRC% calculation, a supplementary gate (Gate 2) was added. Using the particle number in this gate as well as in Gate 1, a revised method for such samples was developed and its validity confirmed (revised FRC% correlated with a manual count for 10 subjects (P < 0.001). Because this gating system can be programmed on any XE-2100, it is likely to prove useful for accurate quantification of red blood cell fragmentation and for the monitoring of the development of BMT-TMA.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Division, Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan; Blood Transfusion Division, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan. meiyi_jiang@sysmex.co.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saigo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kosaka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D048429:Cell Size / Q000235:genetics; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000295:instrumentation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D006405:Hematology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D012313:RNA