COMPARISON OF THE ABBOTT CELL-DYN-3000-SL AND THE COULTER-STKS HEMATOLOGY ANALYZERS

A side by side comparison of the Cell Dyn 3000 SL and Coulter STKS usi ng identical samples was performed over a four month period in the Cli nical Hematology Laboratory at the University of Cincinnati Medical Ce nter. A total of 444 samples comprised of 114 sophomore medical studen ts and 330 randomly selected clinical patients were compared in 20 hem ogram parameters, and the ability of each instrument to generate diffe rential suspect flags was analyzed. Correlation coefficients for leuko cytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets were 0.99. Correlation coefficients for the Cell Dyn and STKS compared with a 600 cell manual differential were 0.98 and 0.89 for neutrophils, 0.96 and 0.87 for lymphocytes, and 0.72 and 0.48 for monocytes, respectively. Both instruments demonstrated high precision and accuracy by internal and external quality control standards. Each analyzer exhibited streng th as a screening instrument for abnormal cell populations. The Coulte r STKS had overall sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 94%, 25% false n egatives, and 6% false positives. Sensitivity, specificity, false nega tive and positive rates for the Cell Dyn 3000 SL were 68%, 92%, 32%, a nd 8%, respectively. Based upon this extensive side by side comparison using an identical sample population, it has been concluded that alth ough statistically significant systematic bias (p < 0.05) exists betwe en the two instruments, both analyzers can adequately support the need s of the clinical hematology laboratory.