CORRELATION OF PLATELET COUNT ESTIMATION: MANUAL VERSUS AUTOMATEDMETHOD - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

BACK GROUND: Platelet count assessment is needed in clinical practice and in certain diseases. In hematology laboratories, various methods for platelet counting are used like automated hematology analyzer counting, platelet count estimation by peripheral blood smear(PBS) method and hemocytometer (neubauer chamber). The reliability of platelet count is required in cases where the platelet transfusion is necessary. METHODS: This study involved collecting blood samples from 500 patients randomly selected, including both inpatients and outpatients, over the period of one and a half year. The samples were collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes. Platelet counts were measured through automated platelet analysis and then compared with those obtained manually. . RESULTS: The results revealed a subtle trend, showing that manual slide-derived platelet counts slightly exceeded those produced by automated analyzers. CONCLUSION: The study found a clear correlation between automated and manual methods for assessing platelet counts. However, in cases of extremely high or low platelet counts, the manual method proved more reliable, as it avoids issues such as platelet clumping or uneven distribution, thereby ensuring greater accuracy.