Automatic wedge smears preparation may cause traumatic morphological changes in peripheral blood cells

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Clinical Laboratory Science
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Automated analyzers for blood smear preparation and staining are increasingly used in clinical settings.
• Despite instrumental optimization, traumatic injuries to neutrophils and lymphocytes occur during automated analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the occurrence and implications of traumatic cell injuries in automated blood smear analysis.
• To explore the potential for cellular susceptibility to mechanical damage during automated processing.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of blood smears prepared and stained by automated analyzers.
• Morphological evaluation of neutrophils and lymphocytes for signs of traumatic injury.
• Comparison of cell damage across different samples and potential influencing factors.

Main Results:

• Traumatic injuries to neutrophils and lymphocytes were observed in automated blood smear analysis.
• A high percentage of damaged cells was noted in some samples, suggesting variable cellular susceptibility.
• These artifacts can complicate morphological assessment in both traditional and digital microscopy.

Conclusions:

• Automated blood smear analyzers can introduce significant artifacts due to mechanical trauma.
• Cellular susceptibility may play a role in the extent of observed cell damage.
• These findings highlight the need for careful morphological evaluation and operator awareness to avoid misinterpretation.