Evaluation of a new haematology analyser for whole blood count and full differential (NE-8000).

We evaluated the fully automated haematology analyser TOA Sysmex NE-8000 over a three-month period according to the ICSH protocol using as reference techniques a Coulter STKR counter and microscope examination for WBC differential and cell morphology. The NE-8000 employs aperture impedance to perform cell counts, with a sheath fluid to focus cells hydrodynamically prior to counting and sizing. WBC are differentiated into five populations. A combination of aperture impedance, radio frequency measurement and differential cell shrinkage is used, eosinophil and basophil percentages being established in two separate channels and subtracted from the total granulocyte count in order to give the value for neutrophils. Analysis of 1060 samples processed by the closed sampling automode demonstrated satisfactory counting performance. Among the WBC differentials obtained from 100 samples, neutrophil, eosinophil and lymphocyte results correlated well with those from microscopic examination of blood smears performed according to the NCCLS standard H20 T protocol. Differences observed in the percentages of basophils were of no biomedical significance. A comparative study for monocytes showed poor correlation for values below 5% and above 10%, best results being obtained in the intermediate range 5-10%. The NE-8000 also demonstrated good reliability for detection of abnormal cells.