Usefulness of cell counter-based parameters and formulas in detection of beta-thalassemia trait in areas of high prevalence.

The present study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the usefulness of cell counter-based parameters and formulas in beta-thalassemia trait (BTT) detection. The study included 170 BTT cases (hemoglobin [Hb]A(2) >4.0% [0.04]) and 30 non-BTT cases (HbA(2), 2.3%-3.5% [0.02-0.04]). Depending on the hemoglobin level and iron deficiency, the BTT group was further classified into classic BTT (n = 112) and BTT with iron deficiency anemia (n = 58). The RBC count, MCH, MCV, RDW, and Shine and Lal, Mentzler, Srivastava, England and Fraser, Ricerca, and Green indexes were applied. For the first time in the population of India, these 10 cell counter parameters and manual formulas were compared with high-performance liquid chromatography-derived HbA2 levels for deriving a cost-effective alternative method; and receiver operating characteristic curves were applied. We found that the Shine and Lal, Srivastava, and Mentzler indexes, MCV, and MCH have better discriminative function than the RBC count and red cell distribution width and their related formulas.

Diagnosis of acute malaria by laser based cell counter with comparison of conventional and recent techniques in Indian scenario.

UNLABELLED: Malaria is one of the most important parasitic diseases in humans affecting 103 countries worldwide. AIMS: The present study aims to determine the diagnostic utility of cell counter data--hemoglobin, total leukocyte count, platelet count and depolarized laser light (DLL)-based purple-coded events (PCEs) in detection of acute malaria. This is a retrospective study of 523 patient data that came for complete blood count for the first time. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-five of the 523 patients showed microscopic evidence of malaria. Platelet count showed the highest sensitivity of 77.77% (105/135). PCEs (> or = 1) showed 43.7% (59/135) sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that a low platelet count (< 150 x 109/L) is a good hematological parameter for presumptive diagnosis of malaria. If we change the cut-off for PCEs from > or = 1 to > or = 2, the sensitivity would be 56.29% (76/135) and the specificity would be 94.58% (367/388), respectively. The sensitivity of DLL was low, particularly with a low parasitic index (PI). The number of PCEs does not correlate with the PI. The cut-off number of PCEs in DLL-based malaria detection should be modified in highly endemic areas.