Comparison of the AcT 5 diff autoloader hematology analyzer to the Abbott Cell-Dyn 3200 analyzer at Charlevoix Area Hospital.

The Coulter AcT 5 diff autoloader (AL) hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, CA, USA) was evaluated at the Charlevoix Area Hospital, a small rural community hospital. The analyzer was compared to the laboratory's current instrument, a Cell-Dyn 3200 (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA). The study included comparisons of precision, efficiency and productivity, and reliability. The 5-part white blood cell differentials on both instruments were compared, and the clinical utility and flagging performance of both analyzers were confirmed by manual differential counts. The AcT 5 diff AL was shown to have excellent precision and accuracy. The addition of the autoloader to the AcT 5 diff provides a low-volume system with the added benefits of a "load and leave" analyzer normally available only to larger laboratories.