Hematological parameters: is there a difference between those released by the hematological analyzer and to the...

Area of Science:

• Clinical Pathology
• Laboratory Medicine
• Hematology

Background:

• Hematological analyzers generate a comprehensive set of parameters.
• Customer reports from clinical laboratories may not include all available parameters.
• Incomplete reporting can impact patient diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare hematological parameters from analyzers with those in customer reports.
• To identify discrepancies in laboratory reporting practices.
• To assess the impact of incomplete reporting on patient assessment.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study was conducted in 16 clinical laboratories.
• Interviews using a questionnaire assessed reported parameters versus analyzer-generated parameters.
• Data collected from laboratories in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Main Results:

• No laboratory reported all parameters from hematological analyzers.
• Red blood cell distribution width (88%) and atypical lymphocytes (70%) were most commonly reported.
• Reticulocytes, immature granulocytes, and platelet parameters were rarely reported.

Conclusions:

• All surveyed laboratories failed to report at least one analyzer-generated parameter.
• Lack of professional knowledge regarding parameter clinical significance contributes to omissions.
• Including all available parameters in complete blood count reports is crucial for thorough patient evaluation.