title: Assessment of blood sample stability for complete blood count using the Sysmex XN-9000 and Mindray BC-6800 analyzers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Different hematological analyzers have different analytical performances that are often reflected in the criteria for sample stability of the complete blood count. This study aimed to assess the stability of several hematological parameters using the XN-9000 Sysmex and BC-6800 Mindray analyzers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The impact of storage at room temperature and 4°C was evaluated after 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 36 and 48h using ten normal and 40 abnormal blood samples. The variation from the baseline measurement was evaluated by the Steel-Dwass-Critchlow-Fligner test and by Bland-Altman plots, using quality specifications and critical difference as the total allowable variation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Red blood cells and reticulocyte parameters (i.e. hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell distribution width, immature reticulocyte fractions, low-fluorescence reticulocytes, middle-fluorescence reticulocytes, high fluorescence mononuclear cells) showed less stability compared to leukocyte and platelet parameters (except for monocyte count and mean platelet volume). The bias for hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and red blood cell distribution width coefficient of variation was higher than the critical difference after 8h using both analyzers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blood samples measured with both analyzers do not show analytically significant changes in up to 2h of storage at room temperature and 4°C. However, the maximum time for analysis can be extended for up to 8h when the bias is compared to the critical difference.
authors: Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy. Electronic address: sbuoro@asst-pg23.it.
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Buoro
authors: Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
authors: Tommaso
authors: T
authors: Mecca
authors: Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
authors: Michela
authors: M
authors: Seghezzi
authors: Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Manenti
authors: Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Cerutti
authors: Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Dominoni
authors: Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
authors: Gavino
authors: G
authors: Napolitano
authors: Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Resmini
authors: Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Crippa
authors: CAM Centro Analisi Monza, Monza, Italy.
authors: Cosimo
authors: C
authors: Ottomano
authors: Universitaà degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Lippi
keywords: BC-6800; Complete blood count; Pre-analytical phase; Sample stability; XN-9000