Automated reticulocyte parameters for hereditary spherocytosis screening
Elena Lazarova1, Olivier Pradier, Frédéric Cotton
1Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik, 808, 1070, Brussels, Belgium, elena.lazarova@erasme.ulb.ac.be.
Annals of Hematology
|June 11, 2014
Summary
Automated reticulocyte parameters like mean reticulocyte volume (MRV) show promise for screening hereditary spherocytosis (HS). These parameters, along with cryohaemolysis, offer effective and time-saving diagnostic tools for haemolytic anaemias.
Area of Science:
- Haematology
- Clinical Diagnostics
- Red Blood Cell Disorders
Background:
- Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) diagnosis relies on multiple tests.
- Current methods include clinical assessment, red blood cell morphology, cryohaemolysis, and gel electrophoresis.
- There is a need for efficient screening tools in HS diagnostics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate automated reticulocyte parameters as a screening tool for HS.
- To compare the diagnostic utility of mean reticulocyte volume (MRV), immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF), and mean sphered cell volume (MSCV) against established methods.
- To assess the ability of these parameters to differentiate HS from other anaemias, including acquired autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 410 blood samples using the UniCel DxH800 haematology analyser.
- Investigation of reticulocyte parameters: MRV, IRF, and MSCV.
- Comparison with cryohaemolysis test and sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for 159 samples.
Main Results:
- MRV and delta (mean cell volume - MSCV) showed high diagnostic accuracy (AUC 0.98).
- MRV demonstrated 88% specificity at 100% sensitivity for HS screening.
- Reticulocyte parameters effectively distinguished HS from controls, other anaemias, and AIHA, outperforming the cryohaemolysis test in differentiating from AIHA.
Conclusions:
- Automated reticulocyte parameters are valuable for orienting the diagnosis of haemolytic anaemias in general laboratories.
- Combining reticulocyte parameters with the cryohaemolysis test provides an effective and time-efficient screening strategy for HS in specialized settings.
