MARKED INTERFERENCE OF HYPERGLYCEMIA IN MEASUREMENTS OF MEAN (RED) CELL-VOLUME BY TECHNICON-H ANALYZERS

Severe hyperglycemia can result in falsely high results for mean cell (erythrocyte) volume (MCV), which will also cause false results for er ythrocyte indices calculated on the basis of MCV. Falsely high MCV res ults were obtained with the Technicon H1 and H2 analyzers and (to a le sser extent) with the Coulter T660. The H analyzers were more suscepti ble to this interference than was the Coulter TC660. This difference i n sensitivity of MCV to hyperglycemia can be explained by the use of s odium dodecyl sulfate in the Technicon erythrocyte diluent and by diff erences in incubation times. In severe hyperglycemia, results for MCV, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit obtained from elec tronic cell counters, especially Technicon H systems, are unreliable.