The new hematology analyzer Sysmex XE-2100 - Performance evaluation of a novel white blood cell differential technology

Context.-The new hematology analyzer Sysmex XE-2700 (TOA Medical Electronic s, Kobe, Japan) has a novel, combined, white blood cell differential techno logy and a special reagent system to enumerate nucleated red blood cells. Design.-Performance evaluation of both technologies of the Sysmex XE-2100 a ccording to the H20-A protocol of the National Committee for Clinical and L aboratory Standards and comparison of the results with those for the hemato logy analyzer Sysmex NE-8000 (TOA Medical Electronics). Specimens.-Five hundred forty-four blood samples randomly chosen from vario us inpatient and outpatient departments of the Vienna University hospital. Results.-Five-part white blood cell differential counts on the XE-2100 reve aled excellent correlation with the manual reference method for neutrophils , lymphocytes, and eosinophils (r = .925, .922, and .877, respectively) and good correlation for monocytes and basophils (r = .756 and .763, respectiv ely). The efficiency rates of flagging for the presence of greater than or equal to1% abnormal white blood cells were 83% (XE-2100) and 66% (NE-8000). The correlation of automated and microscopic nucleated red blood cell coun ts was excellent (r = .97). Conclusions.-From the present evaluation and our former experience with oth er types of Sysmex analyzers, we conclude that the new white blood cell dif ferential technology of the XE-2100 represents a further development toward more efficient flagging of abnormal white blood cells.