[Improving the quality of hematological studies using sigmametry.]

Area of Science:

• Clinical laboratory science
• Hematology
• Quality control

Background:

• Hematology studies are crucial for diagnosing and monitoring various medical conditions.
• Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of hematology test results is paramount for patient care.
• Sigmetry provides a robust framework for evaluating analytical performance in laboratory testing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation quality of hematology studies using sigmetry.
• To assess the performance of hematology analyzers based on sigmetry metrics.
• To determine optimal strategies for internal laboratory quality control.

Main Methods:

• Daily monitoring of key hematology parameters: white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin.
• Utilization of a certified three-level control material ('CBC-XE Hematology control') for laboratory quality control.
• Analysis of data using sigmetry, calculating coefficient of variation (CV), systematic error (Bias), and total allowable analytical error (TE max).
• Testing performed on 'Sysmex XT-2000i' and 'Sysmex XT-1800i' hematology analyzers.

Main Results:

• On the 'Sysmex XT-2000i' analyzer, sigmetry values for platelets ranged between 3 and 4.
• For white blood cells, red blood cells, and hemoglobin on the 'Sysmex XT-2000i', sigmetry values exceeded 4.
• On the 'Sysmex XT-1800i' analyzer, sigmetry values for platelets, white blood cells, red blood cells, and hemoglobin were all greater than 4.
• The results provide a basis for selecting appropriate control materials and frequency for internal quality control.

Conclusions:

• Sigmetry analysis indicates acceptable to excellent quality for most hematology parameters tested.
• The implementation of sigmetry in daily laboratory activities can improve the quality of platelet count determination.
• Further observation is recommended to fully validate the impact of sigmetry on platelet count accuracy.