The determination of the eosinophil count: comparison of two techniques

The total eosinophil count obtained by use of the standard hemacytometer is considered by several investigators to be the most reliable method for the determination of the circulating eosinophil levels in the blood because it is believed to be less subject to error than the calculated eosinophil count obtained with Wright stained blood smears from the differential count. We compared the two techniques in outpatients as well as inpatients with and without allergies (total of 514 patients). Our results demonstrate that the eosinophil count by the two methods are similar.