Screening for hemoglobin C using Technicon H-6000: the effect of formalin

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Clinical Chemistry
• Laboratory Science

Background:

• Automated cell counters are essential for accurate blood analysis.
• The H-6000 cell counter has demonstrated an inability to process blood samples containing hemoglobin C.
• Previous studies have not identified the specific cause of this analytical failure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cause of red blood cell lysis failure in the H-6000 cell counter for samples with hemoglobin C.
• To identify the interfering substance responsible for the H-6000's performance issue.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of blood samples with and without hemoglobin C.
• Investigation of potential interfering agents, including common laboratory fixatives.
• Assessment of red blood cell lysis efficiency using the H-6000 cell counter.

Main Results:

• Formalin was identified as the substance inhibiting red blood cell lysis.
• The presence of formalin directly correlates with the failure of the H-6000 cell counter to lyse red blood cells in samples with hemoglobin C.
• Hemoglobin C samples without formalin exposure were processed correctly.

Conclusions:

• Formalin is the causative agent for the failure of red blood cell lysis in the H-6000 cell counter when analyzing samples with hemoglobin C.
• Awareness of formalin's interference is crucial for accurate hematological analysis.
• Recommendations for sample handling and instrument maintenance should be considered to mitigate this issue.