title: A feasibility study on the effects of Triton X-100 for the in vitro inactivation of Ebola virus on haematological assays.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to check the effect of Triton X-100 on various, commonly used haematology test parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymised blood samples were treated with 10 µL of 10% Triton X-100 per 1 mL of blood. Treated and untreated samples were tested in parallel for blood film morphology, complete blood counts (CBCs), flow cytometry, blood grouping and antibody screens. Samples were also taken in 3.2% citrate tubes for coagulation test analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical differences were noted in all CBC parameters apart from the mean cell volume, eosinophil and basophil counts. Platelet counts were significantly different with an apparent rise after the addition of Triton X-100. Samples were noted to have a high red cell fragmentation index. Immunological platelet counting methods using flow cytometry and fluorescent methods showed no significant differences and gave reliable results. Neither flow cytometry for T-cell subsets nor blood grouping/antibody screens were affected by Triton X-100. However, coagulation samples were severely haemolysed prohibiting analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have demonstrated that the addition of Triton X-100 to haematology blood samples impacts mainly on platelet counts and coagulation studies due to haemolysis. The platelet count is spuriously raised probably due to the presence of red cell fragments. The latter can be circumvented by the use of immunological platelet counting technology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mifsud
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peelen
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brincat
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Sylvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abela
authors.affiliation: Hospital Blood Bank, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Debattista
authors.affiliation: Hospital Blood Bank, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laspina
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zammit
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Camilleri
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gatt
mesh_terms: D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D017830:Octoxynol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010976:Platelet Count; D038301:Virus Inactivation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D017830:Octoxynol
keywords: CELL COUNTING; COAGULATION; FLOW CYTOMETRY; HAEMATOLOGY; PLATELETS