Early hematologic analyzers could only count red and white blood cells, but in recent years, many devices have added new parameters to meet clinical needs for diagnosis and differential diagnosis. The first added and widely recognized parameter was the red blood cell distribution width (RDW). Subsequently, other various parameters and functions such as mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), plateletocrit (PCT), large platelet ratio, hemoglobin concentration distribution width, abnormal lymphocyte prompt, immature cell prompt, etc. were also continuously added to the instruments of some brands. Some devices can even provide 40-50 measurement or calculation parameters, but many new parameters are only used for laboratory use and are not yet applied clinically.
Ⅰ.Red blood cell parameters:
Total red blood cell count (RBC) and hemoglobin (HGB or Hb): Commonly used as indicators for anemia judgment, divided into mild, moderate, and severe, and divided into physiological anemia and pathological anemia.
Hematocrit (HCT): A reliable indicator to grasp the dilution degree of blood, often used as the basis for rehydration in dehydrated patients; also an important indicator for observing blood viscosity, which is of great significance for the prediction of thrombotic diseases.
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH): Mainly used as the basis for morphological classification of anemia.
Red blood cell distribution width (RDW): It represents the dispersion degree of red blood cell volume size distribution and more accurately reflects the variation in red blood cell size. When observed in combination with MCV, it provides more guidance for the morphological distribution of anemia.
Ⅱ.White blood cell parameters:
Total white blood cell count (WBC): Variations can occur under both physiological and pathological conditions. Acute infections or poisoning, malignant tumors, leukemia, etc. can cause WBC to increase; typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, autoimmune diseases and splenic hyperfunction can cause WBC to decrease.
Basophil count (EOS), acidophil count (BASO), monocyte count (MONO): An increase in EOS is common in allergic or inflammatory diseases; an increase in BASO is common in parasitic infections and allergic diseases; an increase in MONO is common in tuberculosis, typhoid fever, malaria, etc.
Lymphocyte count (LYM): Commonly used for the diagnosis of infectious diseases; a decrease in count is also common in the acute phase of infectious diseases, use of hormones, malignant tumors, etc.
Ⅲ.Platelet parameters:
Total platelet count (PLT): Commonly used indicator for assisting in the diagnosis of hemorrhagic diseases, understanding bone marrow proliferation conditions, and preparing for surgery.
Mean platelet volume (MPV): Can be used to identify the cause of platelet reduction.
Platelet distribution width (PDW): Used for detecting platelet function, it has diagnostic value for thrombotic diseases, anemia, bone marrow function abnormalities, etc.
Ⅳ.Reticulocytes:
Absolute reticulocyte count (RET#), reticulocyte ratio (RET%): Accurately reflects erythropoietic function.
Reticulocyte production index (RPI): Indicates the multiples equivalent to normal people. RPI >3: suggests hemolytic anemia or acute hemorrhagic anemia; RPI <1: suggests anemia caused by low marrow proliferation or erythrocytic maturation disorder.
Low Fluorescence Reticulocytes (LFR), Medium Fluorescence Reticulocytes (MFR), High Fluorescence Reticulocytes (HFR): The closer reticulocytes are to maturation, the lower the fluorescence intensity. This is used to assist in monitoring the treatment process for patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and transplants, as well as in the early diagnosis of anemia.
While the hematology analyzer has become one of the most commonly used screening instruments in clinical laboratories both domestically and abroad, there is still a certain gap in the level of use of the hematology analyzer among different medical institutions. Technicians at primary medical institutions can carry out simple operations but often lack formal operational training and instruction in relevant theoretical knowledge. They lack mastery over the principles of the instrument, its performance, calibration, quality control, result analysis, equipment maintenance, and evaluation. Technicians at secondary medical institutions are relatively skilled in the operation and maintenance of the equipment, but they often blindly trust the test results. The lack of a re-inspection system leads to omissions and errors in testing. Meanwhile, the current hematology analyzer provides many test parameters. A lack of understanding and application of the value of these parameters can lead to a significant waste of the functionality of the hematology analyzer.
CNMEDITECH is dedicated to the long-term research of the hematology analyzer market. As stated in our mission, “People oriented and win-win strategy,Matching the real needs of the region with a focus on human health,To be the world’s first-class medical field solution expert” has been our mission. Please contact us with any hematology analyzer product-related inquiries!