An assessment of the Ortho ELT-800 WBC and three-part WBC screen

The ELT-800 WBC and three-part WBC screen have been evaluated. Technical assessment showed each to be satisfactory but in a small number of samples, the total WBC was found to be incorrect. Discrepancies were found in some cases of chronic lymphatic leukaemia, sickle cell disease and paraproteinaemia. The reasons for these differences are discussed. In the population studied, an accurate WBC screen was obtained on 87.3% of samples. Initial instrument WBC screen rejection occurred on 12.7% but in only 2.1% could no explanation be found to account for this.