title: Laboratory identification of cryoglobulinemia from automated blood cell counts, fresh blood samples, and blood films.
abstract: Four cases showing different means to detect cryoglobulins are reported: effects on blood cell counts performed on 2 technologically different automated hematology instruments and microscopic features in fresh blood samples and on May-Grünwald-Giemsa-stained bloodfilms. These cases were chosen for their instructive value in depicting all artifacts associated with cryoglobulins. Laboratory recognition of the cryoglobulins is important to correct factitious results with automated blood cell counters, mainly pseudoleukocytosis and pseudothrombocytosis. Moreover cryoglobulin-induced laboratory artifacts may be the first factor prompting the assessment for cryoglobulinemia and the diagnosis of the underlying cause.
authors.affiliation: Hematology Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Nancy, Vandoeuvre, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fohlen-Walter
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lecompte
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lesesve
mesh_terms: D001322:Autoanalysis; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000150:complications; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications; D010976:Platelet Count