title: Quantitative detection of target cells using unghosted cells (UGCs) of DxH 800 (Beckman Coulter).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the Retic channel of DxH 800 (Beckman Coulter), the red blood cells (RBCs) resistant to hemoglobin clearing are counted as unghosted cells (UGCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate that the UGC is a surrogate marker for both the detection and counting of target cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 1181 samples including 22 from iron deficiency anemia (IDA) patients, 95 from jaundice, 2 from sickle cell anemia, 3 from thalassemia, 1 cord blood, and 269 from normal controls were analyzed. Slides were prepared from all samples except normal controls and target cells were counted for correlation analysis of target cell counts to UGCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The normal control samples showed 0.01% (0%-0.01%) UGCs, and the reference range was set at ≤0.02%. The IDA samples showed 0.015% (0.01%-0.03%) UGC count and 0.05% (0%-0.2%) target cell count. The jaundice samples showed 0.98% (0.1%-5.36%) UGC count, and 1.4% (0.1%-7.0%) target cell count. The two sickle cell anemia samples showed 0.41% and 3.74% UGC counts and 0.4% and 11.5% target cell counts. A cord blood sample showed 0.01% UGCs and 0% target cells. The three thalassemia samples showed 0.01%, 1.99%, and 7.82% UGC counts and 0%, 1.4%, and 15.5% target cell counts. The samples showing poikilocytosis other than target cells showed normal UGC count (≤0.02%). The positive predictive value of UGCs was 58.2% (124/213) and the negative predictive value was 96.8% (674/696). The UGC counts were well correlated to the manual target cell counts (r=0.944, p=0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates for the first time in the literature that a hematological parameter obtained automatically every time a reticulocyte counting is performed can be used to both screen for the presence of target cells and reliably quantify them.
authors: Wonbae
authors: W
authors: Lee
authors: Jung-Ho
authors: JH
authors: Kim
authors: In Kyung
authors: IK
authors: Sung
authors: Sung Kyun
authors: SK
authors: Park
authors: Seong Taek
authors: ST
authors: Oh
authors: Hun-Hee
authors: HH
authors: Park
authors: Yeon-Joon
authors: YJ
authors: Park
authors: Yonggoo
authors: Y
authors: Kim
authors: Eun-Jee
authors: EJ
authors: Oh
authors: Myungshin
authors: M
authors: Kim
authors: Hae-Il
authors: HI
authors: Park
authors: Kyungja
authors: K
authors: Han
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004913:Erythrocytes, Abnormal / Q000166:cytology*; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D017701:Reticulocyte Count / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins