Artifactual changes in equine blood following storage, detected using the Advia 120 hematology analyzer.

The research paper discusses a study conducted to identify potential changes in horse blood samples that occur due to delayed analysis using the Advia 120 hematology analyzer. The study assesses the extent of these changes when blood samples were stored at different temperatures for certain periods.

Objective

The main objective of this study was to understand the artifactual (incorrect or misleading) changes that can occur in equine (horse) blood when the analysis of samples is delayed. The researchers aimed to explore how storage conditions like temperature and duration might affect these changes.

Methodology

• In this study, blood samples from five horses were used.
• The blood samples were analysed using the Advia 120 hematology analyzer, a machine designed for blood analysis.
• Each sample was analysed soon after collection and then again after 24 and 48 hours of storage.
• The storage temperatures used were 4 degrees Celsius and around 24 degrees Celsius, which is considered the ambient laboratory temperature.

Results

• The study showed that delayed analysis of equine blood samples resulted in several noticeable changes.
• The blood samples showed an increase in the number of normocytic hypochromic Red Blood Cells (RBCs), which are typically indicative of certain types of anemia.
• The number of macrocytic hypochromic RBCs also increased; these can indicate deficiencies in Vitamin B12 or folic acid.
• Another observed artifact was the misclassification of granulocytes (a type of white blood cell) as mononuclear cells, when using a specific method known as the basophil reagent method.
• A condition called pseudothrombocytosis was also discovered, caused by the Advia 120 mistakenly detecting ghost RBCs as platelets.
• The pseudothrombocytosis issue was later rectified by amending the software of the analyzer.

Conclusions

• Due to the changes in cytograms produced by the Advia 120, researchers were able to detect most of the artifactual changes in stored equine blood samples.
• Interestingly, these changes were less pronounced in samples stored at 24 degrees Celsius compared to those stored at 4 degrees Celsius.
• The ability to observe and understand these changes can help in improving the accuracy in blood analyses by avoiding or countering these artifact issues.