ESTIMATION AND COMPARISON OF PLATELET COUNT: AUTOMATED ANALYZERVS MANUAL PERIPHERAL SMEAR METHOD

Accurately assessing platelet counts holds paramount importance in the realm of diagnostics and treatment. The adoption of automated methods within the diagnostic landscape is steadily growing, attributed to their multifaceted benefits. Nonetheless, automated analyzers sometimes yield erroneous results, particularly in scenarios involving particles of comparable sizes or instances of light scattering. These encompass fragmented red blood cells (RBCs), microcytic RBCs, and the presence of oversized platelets or platelet clusters. In response, the manual estimation of platelet counts using Leishmans stain validation gains significance. Method: this study encompassed the collection of blood samples from a diverse pool of 100 patients, including both inpatients and outpatients, spanning the period from 1st February 2023 to 31st July 2023. These samples, procured from GMC Doda and its affiliated hospital, were collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes. The manual platelet count was done, followed by a comprehensive comparative analysis with the counts obtained through automated platelet analysis. Results: the outcomes unveiled a nuanced trend, with manual slide-derived results slightly surpassing those generated by automated analyzers. Conclusion: This study concluded a discernible correlation between automated and manual methodologies for platelet count assessment. Nevertheless, in instances marked by exceedingly high or low platelet counts, the manual method holds its ground, ensuring precision by circumventing concerns like platelet clumping or uneven distribution.