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Quality control of automated cellular analyses -- the fallibility of embalmed blood
The use of preserved blood for quality control is well established. The treatment of such materials to extend their life can impart a property to those materials such that external contaminants to diluents used for subsequent analysis may not be detected by these materials and give a false sense of security in a quality control program. The effect of the contaminant on fresh cells is more of a problem. Most contaminants affect cell volume, particularly the red cells which have been studied in-depth. White cell differential screening by size analysis is similarly affected. The recognition of the different properties of fresh and preserved blood helps explain results.
The use of preserved blood for quality control is well established. The treatment of such materials to extend their life can impart a property to those materials such that external contaminants to diluents used for subsequent analysis may not be detected by these materials and give a false sense of security in a quality control program. The effect of the contaminant on fresh cells is more of a problem. Most contaminants affect cell volume, particularly the red cells which have been studied in-depth. White cell differential screening by size analysis is similarly affected. The recognition of the different properties of fresh and preserved blood helps explain results.