title: Automated flow cytometry analysis of peritoneal dialysis fluid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, the Sysmex UF-100 flow cytometer has been developed to automate urinalysis. We have evaluated this instrument to explore the possibilities of flow cytometry in the analysis of peritoneal dialysis fluid (PD) and have compared the obtained data with those of counting chamber techniques, biochemical analysis and bacterial culture.
  
  
  METHODS
  UF-100 data were correlated with microscopy and biochemical data in 135 PD samples. Microbiological analysis was performed in 63 suspected cases of peritonitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Good agreement (P < 0.001) was obtained between UF-100 and microscopy data for leukocytes (r = 0.825). UF-100 bacterial count correlated (P < 0.001) with UF-100 leukocyte count (r = 0.549). UF-100 bacterial counts were unreliable in samples where interference by blood platelets was observed. Another major problem was the UF-100 'bacterial' background signal in sterile PD samples. Yeast cells were detected by the flow cytometer in spiked samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flow cytometry of PD with the UF-100 offers a rapid and reliable leukocyte count. Sensitivity of the 'bacterial' channel count in predicting positive culture exceeds the sensitivity of conventional Gram stain. Furthermore, additional semi-quantitative information is provided regarding the presence of yeasts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penders
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fiers
authors.forename: Annemieke M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dhondt
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Claeys
authors.forename: Joris R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Delanghe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001322:Autoanalysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D015314:Dialysis Solutions / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D011336:Probability; D012372:ROC Curve; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015314:Dialysis Solutions