Validation of electronic cell counts by quantitative buffy coat analysis (QBC).

A total of 458 eight blood cell counts, accompanied by blood film reviews of the same samples, were performed with an electronic cell counter and with the QBC. In the great majority of cases, the QBC gave fast and accurate control of the flags from the electronic counter, thus avoiding the necessity for manual validation with its associated risks of infection and contaminations. Furthermore, QBC non readability could be related to microcytosis and hypochromia and hence point to possible cases of congenital or acquired haemoglobinopathy.