A Fully Automated System for the Simultaneous Determination of Whole Blood Red Cell Count and Hemoglobin Content

Abstract

In patients with extreme microcytosis, particularly in thalassemia major, both the fully automated and the Coulter methods gave substantially lower values than the manual method. A similar finding was made in the case of autoimmune hemolytic anemia. With the fully automated hemoglobin system a remarkable degree of precision was found. Accuracy in both systems, however, is dependent upon frequent calibration and recognition of the effects of trailing back. Agreement of the fully automated hemoglobin determinations with those made with a Beckman spectrocolorimeter was very good in all normal instances, and in most pathologic conditions. In examples of thalassemia major, the fully automated system, however, gave values as much as 1.2 Gm. per 100 ml. less. If potentials for graphic presentation of erythrocyte constants without need for hematocrit determination can be realized, the system would be particularly useful in mass surveys to determine the incidence of thalassemia trait or other conditions, or both, characterized by morphologic changes but not necessarily associated with anemia.