title: "Aged sample" software on automated routine hematology analyzer enables differentiation between pathological and non-pathological WBC flagging in aging samples.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Storing K(x)EDTA-conjugated blood samples at room temperature or under insufficient cooling conditions results in various morphological changes such as swelling of the blood cells. These changes are reproducible and have already been described well. However, they can lead to incorrect flagging when using automated hematology analyzers for complete blood counts and white blood cell differentials. The aim of this study was to determine if those changes can be detected automatically and used to prevent false positive flagging.
  
  
  METHODS
  150 blood samples were aged under controlled conditions and the impact on the "Aged sample" software was checked retrospectively. The results were verified in a second retrospective study including 6288 routine samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When tested in a routine laboratory, the "Aged sample" software was able to reduce overall flagging by 23% without increasing false negative flagging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The "Aged sample" software of XN-Series analyzers does not only detect and flag samples that are aging or were stored under suboptimal conditions but also prevents false positive flagging.
authors: Ragna Aaram
authors: RA
authors: Ulset
authors: Eveline
authors: E
authors: Petrasch
authors: Jarob
authors: J
authors: Saker
authors: Jo
authors: J
authors: Linssen
authors: Konobu
authors: K
authors: Kimura
authors: Kinya
authors: K
authors: Uchihashi
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Philipsen
authors: Arne
authors: A
authors: Eide
mesh_terms: D057205:Automation, Laboratory; D004867:Equipment Design; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009664:Norway; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012984:Software; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors