Artifactual effects of hypernatremia and hyponatremia on red cell analytes measured by the Bayer H*1 analyzer.
Hypernatremia in two cats and hyponatremia in a dog were associated with artifactual changes in red blood cell (RBC) indices and hematocrit (HCT) determined on a Bayer H*1 hematology analyzer. The RBC cytograms and histograms revealed a population shifted towards macrocytic, hypochromic RBC in the hypernatremic cats, and towards microcytic, hyperchromic RBC in the hyponatremic dog. Reference intervals for the difference between manual packed cell volume (PCV) and analyzer-derived HCT in normonatremic dogs, cats and horses were established. The difference between PCT and HCT was outside the reference values for all three patients. Quality control measures, such as measuring PCV, and reviewing cytograms and histograms are essential for detecting spurious changes in automated hematology measurements caused by abnormalities in serum sodium concentration and osmolality.
Boisvert
Agatha M
AM
Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. boisvert@cvm.msu.edu
Tvedten
Harold W.
HW
Scott
Michael A.
MA