End-user verification results of two serum separator tubes for clinical chemistry analytes according to CLSI GP34-A and CLSI GP41-A6.

Tube manufacturers use different composition of gels and blood clot activator formulations in serum tube production. Our aim was to investigate the within-tube (repeatability) and between-tube variation, concordance between comparison results of BD and VacuSEL tubes. Blood samples were collected from control subjects (n = 20) and patients (n = 30) in accordance with the CLSI GP41-A6 and CLSI GP34-A guidelines. Twenty-three clinical chemistry parameters were analysed via Roche Cobas C702 Chemistry Analyzer on T0 (0 hour) and T24 (24 hour). Mean differences % were compared with Wilcoxon matched pair test. Clinical significance was evaluated based on desirable bias according to total allowable error (TEa). VacuSEL tubes demonstrated acceptable performance for the results of 20 parameters with regards to desirable bias % limits. Lactate dehydrogenase (LD) [mean difference % (%95 confidence intervals (CI) values of BD and VacuSEL tubes at T0 [6.41% (4.80-8.01%)]; sodium (Na) and total protein (TP) at T24 [-0.27% (-0.46 to -0.07%) and -1.39% (-1.87 to -0.91), respectively] were over the desirable bias limits (LD: 4.3%, Na: 0.23% and TP: 1.36%, respectively) but not exceeding total biological variation CV % [Na: 0.5 (0.0-1.0) % and TP: 2.6 (2.3-2.7) %). %95 confidence intervals (CI) of T0 LD values overlap with within-subject biological variation % (CI) limits (LD: 5.2 (4.9-5.4) %). The differences between two tubes were not medically significant and necessarily conclusive. VacuSEL serum tubes presented comparable performance with BD serum tubes.

Comparison of Labsan Tricell-1000 and Dirui FUS-2000 automated urine analyzers with manual microscopy.

Objectives: Urinalysis is a first-line test for screening for urinary tract infection. Several devices performing strip and sediment analysis have been introduced. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of Labsan Tricell-1000 and Dirui FUS-2000 automated urine analyzers with manual microscopy. Methods: 463 urine samples were analyzed. Digital image processing and particle recognition automatically display the cells in a flowing sheath fluid mixed monolayer urine sample, take the pictures of particles via digital camera, analyse these pics with a particle recognition software, transfer images of the formed elements to the screen and allow well-trained personnel to select, reclassify or remove them. Manual microscopy was used for comparison. Results: Agreement between Tricell-100 and manual microscopy was very good for RBC (Ï° = 0.80), and WBC (Ï° = 0.83); good for CaOx (Ï° = 0.69), SEC (Ï° = 0.80), YLC (Ï° = 0.72), HC (0.69) and LC (Ï° = 0.64); moderate for BAC (Ï° = 0.51), APC (Ï° = 0.43) and MT (Ï° = 0.55); fair for GC (Ï° = 0.39) and RTEC (Ï° = 0.32). Conclusions: Labsan Trion TriCell-1000 demonstrated satisfactory performance and can be used in routine urinalysis. In the case of low counts of RBC, presence of yeast, crystal, casts or cell clumping in urine sediment, characterization of urine particles should be performed by manual microscopy.

What do simple hematological parameters tell us in patients with systemic sclerosis?

INTRODUCTION: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) or scleroderma is a clinically heterogeneous disease. Autoantibodies associated with different clinical features may help in predicting organ involvement. Complete blood count (CBC) parameters and neutrophil/lymphocyte (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte (MLR), and platelet/lymphocyte (PLR) ratios, which are considered biomarkers of systemic inflammation, have been reported many times in various rheumatologic diseases. Studies related to the usefulness of the CBC to assess the severity of SSc are still lacking. This study seeks to determine whether CBC parameters associated with organ involvement, when evaluated together with clinical features and autoantibodies, can additionally contribute to risk estimation. METHODS: Adult patients with SSc (n = 130) and healthy control (n = 129) groups were enrolled in the study. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings were obtained by examining patient records. RESULTS: PLR, NLR, and MLR were related to organ involvement. Statistically significant results were obtained with hemoglobin (≤ 13.0 g/dl), lymphocyte count (≤ 1,900 × 103/ml), and mean platelet volume (≤ 8.0 fl) to estimate the risk of interstitial lung disease (p < 0.05). When the lymphocyte count was 1,400 (103/ml) or less, there was a significantly greater risk of pulmonary hypertension. Neutrophil volume ≤ 141 indicated gastrointestinal tract involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Simple hematological parameters can be used for predicting SSc-related organ involvements.