Red cell size as measured by the Coulter model S

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Clinical Pathology
• Medical Laboratory Science

Background:

• Established reference ranges for mean corpuscular volume (MCV) are critical for diagnosing anemias and other red blood cell disorders.
• Previous manual methods for erythrocyte counting were associated with lower MCV measurements, potentially due to inaccuracies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the MCV measurements obtained using the Coulter model S in a healthy population.
• To compare Coulter S MCV values against generally accepted reference ranges.
• To investigate the influence of age and sex on MCV in healthy individuals.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Coulter model S for automated measurement of MCV.
• Analyzed MCV data from a cohort of 500 healthy individuals.
• Correlated MCV values with participant age and sex.

Main Results:

• MCV values measured by the Coulter S were consistently higher than commonly accepted ranges (e.g., 82-92 or 76-96 fL).
• The observed range in healthy individuals was 82.2 to 100.6 fL.
• A positive correlation was found between increasing age and mean MCV; no significant sex-based differences were detected.

Conclusions:

• The Coulter model S yields higher MCV values in healthy individuals than previously established ranges suggest.
• Age is a significant factor influencing MCV, with values increasing in older individuals.
• These findings may necessitate a review and potential adjustment of MCV reference ranges for automated cell counters.