RESUMEN
Nowadays, laboratories have more efficient haematology analyzers. These analyzers have to be used in the most efficient and the most adapted way according to the internal organisation of laboratories and prescribers' expectations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the blast flag on ADVIA 2120/2120i, and to suggest what to do, depending on the flag intensity, to identify positive samples the most surely and the most rapidly as possible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven hospital laboratories were included in this prospective study, 148 144 samples of hospital patients were tested during this 4 months study. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of the blast flag are respectively 89,04% and 98,97%. A good correlation between the flag level and the blast count on blood smear is noticed. CONCLUSION: This study could be helpful for laboratories using ADVIA 2120/2120i, to adapt their procedures, depending on the level of the flag provided by the analyser.
