Different Analytical Modes on Automatic Hematology Analyzers for Testing Quality Control Materials and Commutability...

Area of Science:

• Clinical Laboratory Science
• Hematology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Accurate complete blood count (CBC) results are crucial for diagnosing and monitoring hematological disorders.
• The reliability of automated hematology analyzers depends on robust quality control (QC).
• The commutability of commercial hematology QC materials (HQCM) and the impact of analytical modes are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the analytical performance of two HQCM brands (Bioyuan and XC).
• To assess the commutability of these HQCMs across two different hematology analyzers (Sysmex XN-1000 and Mindray BC-6800 Plus).
• To investigate the influence of measurement and sampling modes on QC results.

Main Methods:

• Systematic comparison of results between QC and patient sample measurement modes.
• Comparison of manual and autoloader sampling modes on the Mindray analyzer.
• Commutability assessment using clinical patient samples as a reference.

Main Results:

• Differences between QC and sample modes were analyzer and parameter-specific (e.g., WBC, HCT, MCV on Sysmex).
• Manual vs. autoloader sampling on the Mindray analyzer caused significant differences for most parameters.
• Neither HQCM brand was universally commutable for key parameters (WBC, RBC, HGB, PLT), especially at extreme concentrations, indicating matrix effects.

Conclusions:

• Analytical variables (sampling, measurement modes) and material-dependent matrix effects significantly impact QC results and interpretation.
• Laboratories must standardize protocols and critically select QC materials for reliable hematology testing and quality assurance.
• Further research is needed for developing more commutable reference materials and multicenter validation.