Changes in automated complete blood cell count and differential leukocyte count results induced by storage of blood at room temperature.

Author(s): Gulati GL, Hyland LJ, Kocher W, Schwarting R

Publication: Arch Pathol Lab Med, 2002, Vol. 126, Page 336-42

PubMed ID: 11860310 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of storage of K3EDTA blood specimens at room temperature for up to 7 days on complete blood cell count and differential leukocyte count parameters. Parameters investigated include white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell distribution width (RDW), platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), and neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts.

   Summary of Findings:

   RBC, MCH, hemoglobin, and basophils showed very little change over the 7 day storage period. WBC and platelets also showed little change (<1% and up to 4.6% respectively) over the first 3-4 days, at which point platelets tended to increase and white blood cell counts became variable. At the same time monocytes and MCHC tended to decrease over the 7 days (-78.5% and -9.4% by day 7, respectively). On the other hand, MCV, hematocrit and RDW all increased through day 7 with final values up 10.4%, 10.3%, and 15.8% respectively. MPV increased through day 5 (+12.5%) but then decreased slightly ending at +8.2% on day 7. Neutrophil, lymphocyte, and eosinophil counts all tended to increase as well. Importantly, when initial values were taken into consideration, the authors found that leukopenic and thrombocytopenic specimens exhibited greater average % changes than their normal or high initial count counterparts. Thrombocytopenic specimens platelet counts tended to increase while specimens with a high initial count tended towards a decrease in platelets. While WBC of specimens with high initial counts tended to decrease after day 4, leukopenic specimens tended to show increased WBC after day 5.

   Biospecimens

   • Bodily Fluid - Blood

   Preservative Types

   • None (Fresh)

   Diagnoses:

   • Other diagnoses

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   Protein	Hematology/ auto analyzer
   Cell count/volume	Hematology/ auto analyzer
   Cell count/volume	Coulter counter

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Preaquisition	Diagnosis/ patient condition	Leukopenic Leukocytosis Thrombocytopenic Thrombocytosis Anemia
   Storage	Time at room temperature	0 d 1 d 2 d 3 d 4 d 5 d 6 d 7 d

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