A prototype of the CELL-DYN(R) 3200 haematology analyser was evaluated in a
tertiary care hospital laboratory. Precision, effects of sample ageing, li
nearity, carry-over, and comparability of cellular blood counts and five-pa
rt leucocyte differentiation were determined in accordance with the ICSH gu
idelines for the evaluation of blood cell analysers; the results were satis
factory for all parameters tested: haemoglobin concentration, RBC, MCV, WBC
, platelet count, and counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eo
sinophils. Two-hundred and forty-seven routine blood samples were used for
the comparability studies. The cellular blood count results from the CELL-D
YN(R) 3200 and the Bayer Diagnostic H-l systems corresponded closely (corre
lation coefficient r > 0.96 for all parameters). For 201 samples without an
instrument-generated suspect flag the same was true with regard to the dif
ferential parameters, although somewhat lower correlation was observed for
monocyte counts (r = 0.88). Comparisons to 400-cell microscopic differentia
ls gave similar results (r > 0.93 for neutrophil, lymphocyte and eosinophil
counts). Our results suggest that the CELL-DYN(R) 3200 analyser will serve
the needs for automated blood cell counting and differential leucocyte cou
nting in a tertiary care hospital laboratory.