title: Sample stability for complete blood cell count using the Sysmex XN haematological analyser.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sample stability is a crucial aspect for the quality of results of a haematology laboratory. This study was conducted to investigate the reliability of haematological testing using Sysmex XN in samples stored for up to 24 h at different temperatures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Haematological tests were performed on whole blood samples collected from 16 ostensibly healthy outpatients immediately after collection and 3 h, 6 h or 24 h afterwards, with triple aliquots kept at room temperature, 4 °C or 37 °C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No meaningful bias was observed after 3 h under different storage conditions, except for red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and platelet count (impedance technique, PLT-I) at 37 °C. After 6 h, meaningful bias was observed for mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) at room temperature, red blood cell (RBC) count, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), MCH, MCV and PLT-I at 4 °C, and RBC, RDW, MCHC, MCH and PLT-I at 37 °C. After 24 h, a meaningful bias was observed for MCHC, MCV, platelet count (fluorescent technique, PLT-F) and mean platelet volume (MPV) at room temperature, MCHC, MCV, PLT-I and MPV at 4 °C, and all parameters except RBC count and MPV at 37 °C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Great caution should be observed when analysing results of haematological tests conducted more than 3 h after sample collection.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Hospital of Merano, Merano, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daves
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Hospital of Merano, Merano, Italy.
authors.forename: Elmar M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zagler
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division Hospital of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cemin
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Hospital of Merano, Merano, Italy.
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gnech
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Hospital of Merano, Merano, Italy.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joos
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Hospital of Merano, Merano, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Platzgummer
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lippi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001793:Blood Preservation; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors