Validation of Criteria for Smear Review Following Automated Blood Cell Analysis in Ain Shams University Laboratory

The rules suggested by the International Consensus Group for Hematology Reviews have been considered the international standard to indicate situations requiring a blood smear review, however no guidelines can be used universally without considering the actual demands and capabilities of each laboratory. This study aimed to validate and compare the performance of the criteria for smear review suggested by the Consensus Group with our laboratory criteria.800 blood samples were selected randomly from the daily workload. Automated complete blood counts (CBC) and white blood cell (WBCs) differential counts were performed using Beckman Coulter LH750. Blood films were done for all samples and reviewed for positive smear findings as identified by the International Consensus. The 2 sets of criteria (the Consensus Group and our laboratory criteria) were applied on the samples. Compared with our laboratory criteria, the false negative rate of Consensus Group criteria was higher (9.25 % versus 1.62 %, p 0.05). In conclusion we found that peripheral smear review rate was significantly reduced by applying the consensus group criteria.