Hematological performance of a last generation automated blood cell counter: The Mindray BC-6800 Plus.

Introduction: Hematology analyzers produce reliable, reproducible, precise, accurate results, as well as a premicroscopic characterization of abnormal samples. We have evaluated the clinical performance of a new blood cell counter, which has been temporarily made available to our hematology laboratory.

Methods: Over four months, we analyzed with the Mindray BC-6800 Plus more than 1000 samples with a high incidence of hematological abnormalities, using recommended ICSH and CLSI protocols. We have also assessed flagging efficiency for abnormal cells and scattergram cell distribution.

Results: From a quantitative point of view, our assessment has identified state-of-the-art level reproducibility, excellent linearity, stability over 48°C at 4°C for the conventional parameters, lack of carry-over (<0.2%), and comparability with the routine instruments. These features would make the instrument suitable for immediate and smooth introduction in the hematology laboratory. Flags for abnormal cells are efficient; flag for blast cells has high sensitivity and predictive value of negative results. Additional benefits are provided by a competent interpretation of cell distribution scattergrams in samples from patients with specific hematological disorders.

Conclusion: We have demonstrated good analytical and useful diagnostic performance of this new instrument, including effective selection of abnormal samples for informed microscope morphological analysis.