COMPARISON OF TWO METHODS OF CHILDREN'S RETICULOCYTE COUNTING

Objective To compare two methods of children’s reticulocyte counting, namely, XE-2100 automated hematology analyzer detection and microscopic examination. Method Reticulocyte of venous blood samples collected from 343 children patients were counted by these two methods respectively. Statistical results were obtained by using the SPSS 11.0 software. Result The two methods used in the present study had no significant difference statistically, no matter what level of counting was measured. Correlation coefficient of these two methods was 0.992 as indicated that the correlation was fine. Repeated trials resulted in a lower CV value in XE-2100 detection than in microscopic examination which meant the former had a better reproducibility. Conclusion Reticulocyte counting performed by XE-2100 automated hematology analyzer was more convenient, accurate, precise and faster than by microscopic examination. Moreover,the XE-2100 could output multi-itemed, automatic and stable results so as to provide more detailed information for the treatment. As a traditional detection method, the microscopic examination combined with the XE-2100 could provide direct morphological and more accurate results.