title: Lack of harmonization of red blood cell distribution width (RDW). Evaluation of four hematological analyzers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess analytical imprecision and comparability of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) on Abbott Sapphire, Mindray BC6800, Siemens Advia 2120 and Sysmex XE-5000.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within-run imprecision was assessed on three pools and comparability using 132 inpatient samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The imprecision of RDW was comprised between 0.3 and 1.2%, but the values exhibited broad variation among different analyzers, with bias exceeding the desirable quality specifications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Harmonization of RDW is still an unmet need.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Academic Hospital of Parma, Italy. Electronic address: glippi@ao.pr.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lippi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Academic Hospital of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pavesi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Academic Hospital of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bardi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Academic Hospital of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pipitone
mesh_terms: D048429:Cell Size; D004912:Erythrocytes; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Anysocytosis; Evaluation; Hematology; RDW; Red blood cell distribution width