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Evaluation of the LaserCyte: an in-house hematology analyzer for dogs and cats

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Abstract

In the present study, the LaserCyte instrument, a fully automated flow cytometer for use in veterinary practice, was evaluated for dogs and cats. Precision (coefficient of variation, CV) for red blood cell (RBC) parameters was ≤3.9%, for reticulocytes between 14.9 and 102%, for white blood cells (WBC) between 3 and 9.5%, for neutrophils between 3.9 and 6.5%, for lymphocytes between 7 and 17.9%, for monocytes between 4.9 and 13.1%, for eosinophils between 10.4 and 32.1%, for basophils between 7.8 and 32%, for platelets between 3.1 and 13.2%, and for platelet indices between 0 and 28.2%. The range of linearity extended the reference ranges. The agreement with reference methods (coefficient of correlation, r) were ≥0.96 (RBC), ≥0.94 (hematocrit), ≥0.96 (hemoglobin), ≥0.95 (mean corpuscular volume), ≥0.94 (WBC), ≥0.93 (neutrophils), ≥0.77 (lymphocytes), ≥0.77 (monocytes), ≥0.29 (eosinophils), ≥0.03 (basophils), ≥0.13 (reticulocytes), and ≥0.86 (platelets). The LaserCyte allowed the correct assessment of RBC and WBC parameters with respect to clinical relevance in the majority of samples. Lymphocytopenia was detected in only 51 out of 89 cases and monocytopenia in one out of 11 cases. The reticulocyte counts were correctly estimated in 85 out of 149 cases. It was concluded that the LaserCyte allowed reliable determination of the RBC parameters, WBCs, neutrophils in both species and platelets in dogs. Based on its capability to reliably determine feline platelets and of the parameters mentioned above, this instrument is considered a useful in-house analyzer for the veterinary practice. Qualitative microscopic assessment of blood smears is still necessary for detecting abnormal cell morphologies, certain cell precursors and blood parasites.

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Notes

  1. Micro tube K3-EDTA, Sarstedt, D-51588 Nümbrecht.

  2. BD Vacutainer, No Additive, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417-1885, USA.

  3. Abbott AG, Baar, Switzerland.

  4. Hema Tek 1000, Bayer AG, Zürich, Switzerland.

  5. Assistant Germany, Karl Hecht AG, D-97647 Sandheim.

  6. Becton Dickinson and Company, Ranklin Lakes NJ 07414-1885, USA.

  7. Hettich Centrifuge, Rotanta 460 S, 8806 Bäch, Switzerland.

  8. Dulbecco’s phosphate buffered saline, SIGMA-Aldrich Company, LTD Ir vine, Ayrshire KA 12 8NB, UK.

  9. Excel 2003, Microsoft Corporation, 1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399, USA.

  10. Stat View software, Version 5, SAS Campus Drive, Cary, NC 27513-2414, USA.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the technicians of the Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, and Yvonne Sigrist for excellent support throughout the project. Thanks are also due to our colleagues in the clinics for providing the blood samples, and to Brigitte Egg and Richard Andrews for technical support. Regina Hofmann-Lehmann is the recipient of a professorship by the Swiss National Science Foundation (PP00B-102866). Sources of funding: IDEXX Laboratories, 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, Maine 04092, U.S.A.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 260, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland

    Bettina Wenger-Riggenbach, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann & Hans Lutz

  2. Department of Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 260, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland

    Mike Hässig

Authors
  1. Bettina Wenger-Riggenbach
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  2. Mike Hässig
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  3. Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
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  4. Hans Lutz
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Correspondence to Hans Lutz.

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IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, Maine 04092, USA.

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Wenger-Riggenbach, B., Hässig, M., Hofmann-Lehmann, R. et al. Evaluation of the LaserCyte: an in-house hematology analyzer for dogs and cats. Comp Clin Pathol 15, 117–129 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-006-0602-x

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