COMPARISON OF PLATELET COUNTS SHOWN BY AUTOMATIC HAEMATOLOGY ANALYSERS AND COUNTS MEASURED MANUALLY IN POPULATION OF MOUNTAINOUS HILLY REGION OF CHENAB VALLEY ATTENDING OPD ON ROUTINE BASIS IN GMC DODA. ASSOCIATED HOSPITAL
In clinical practice it is very important to perform the platelet counts. The estimation of platelet counts from peripheral blood smears is an accurate method and provides adequate quality assurance in traditional methods as the automated cell counters are not available at all hospital setups especially in rural areas. In modern era use of automated analyzers based on impedance technology has resulted in improvement of accuracy and helps in measurement of platelet indices such as Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) Plateletcrit (PCT) and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW). However, both the methods have certain limitations. Platelet counts were estimated on a 5-part Differential Automated Hematology Analyzer and manually on Leishman stained peripheral blood SMEAR. Aims & Objective: 1. This study was conducted to compare platelet counts by peripheral blood smear method and automated method in patients attending OPD on routine basis in a mountainous hilly region of J&k . It also aims to study the relation, if any, between the platelet count (automated) and platelet indices like Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) and to assess the possible role of these parameters in certain defined situations. Materials and methods: A prospective study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital on 200 Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulated blood samples. Samples were evaluated by 5-Part differential automated hematology analyser using impedance counting method and by examination of peripheral blood smear method (PBF). Results: In thrombocytopenic patients, the platelet count assessed by automated analyzer revealed an inverse relation with Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) and showed large granular and giant platelets on PBS. Conclusion: Automated hematology analyzer is essential for immediate and accurate complete blood count evaluation but blood samples showing erroneous results or low platelet counts on analyzer should be confirmed on peripheral blood smear. The platelet indices like Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) can point to the underlying pathology especially in cases of thrombocytopenia. Keywords: Automated analyser, Peripheral blood smear, MPV, PDW, large granular platelets.