Evaluation of automated erythrocyte methodology in new world camelids using the ADVIA 2120 hematology analyzer.

The research focuses on evaluating erythrocyte measurements in New World camelids using the ADVIA 2120 hematology analyzer. The study identifies the limitations of the standard method on camelid blood cells and offers revised settings and procedures for the most accurate results.

Objectives and Methodology

• The objectives of this study were to evaluate how camelid erythrocytes react to the sphering process with the ADVIA red blood cell/platelet (RBC/PLT) reagent, and to their lysis process in the ADVIA cyanide HGB reagent. Next, they sought to optimize ADVIA settings specifically for Camelid blood.
• The researchers conducted these evaluations by diluting camelid and canine blood, observing erythrocyte sphering using microscopy, and assessing hemolysis levels at different sample dilutions.
• The erythrocyte parameters, including the red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), mean cell volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), obtained from three different ADVIA settings (equine, bovine, and caprine) were compared with their standard reference measurement methods.
• The preferred statistical methods for assessing data were Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman difference plots.

Findings

• The study found that camelid erythrocytes do not undergo sphering in the ADVIA RBC/PLT reagent, however, they do lyse in the ADVIA cyanide HGB reagent.
• The ADVIA equine setting RBC count was close enough to the standard Coulter count to be considered acceptable.
• Significant differences were observed between the hematocrit, MCV, and MCHC counts obtained from all the different ADVIA settings compared to their respective standard reference methods.
• Mean cell volumes calculated using the equine setting RBC counts gave results closely aligned to their reference MCV.

Conclusions

• For accurate erythrogram results for camelids, the researchers recommend using the ADVIA equine setting for RBC counts and hemoglobin (HGB) concentrations.
• Additionally, they suggest that Mean Cell Volumes (MCV) should be calculated using the packed cell volume (PCV) and the equine setting RBC, while Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentrations (MCHC) should be calculated using the PCV and the equine setting for hemoglobin (HGB).