Comparison of four leukocyte differential methods with the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards...

The authors compared four leukocyte differential counting methods with the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards Reference Leukocyte Differential Method H20-T to determine the clinical sensitivity of the methods. The three-part differential performed by the Coulter Counter Model S-Plus IV and the Toa E-5000, when combined with instrument flags and defined laboratory checking limits for red blood cell and platelet values, are safe and efficacious screening methods for the presence of morphologic abnormalities. The Geometric Data Hematrak 590 proved comparable in clinical sensitivity to a random 100-cell eye-count differential.