Coulter STKS(r) is automated blood cell counting analyzers with a combination of STKR and VCS(volume, conductivity, light scattering method). An evaluation of leukocyte differential count and suspected flags by Coulter STKS(r) were performed by
comparing with cell manual differential counts in 1145 random specimens. The correlation coefficients were 0.976, 0.9676, 0.8204, 0.9694, 0.3431 for neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil and basophil, respectively. Based on the manual
counts, the
positive predictive values of flags on immature granulocytes, blasts, atypical lymphocytes and nucleated RBCs by Coulter STKS(r)were low as 13.4%, 9.5%, 30.2%, 19.0%, respectively. but the negative predictive values of those were high. The
sensitivity
for nucleated RBC was low to be 44.9%. therefore, the flags by Coulter STS(r)were useful to screen abnormal cell populations except for nucleated RBC. Flags for some type of abnormality should be checked by manual method to avoid pos sible false
negatives for the presence of nucleated RBC. It is concluded that Coulter STKS(r)appears to be acceptable as a screening tool for WBC differential count to decrease the review rate to 23.9% and suspected flags of blast, of blast, immature
granulocyte,
and atypical lymphocyte can be also effectively used.
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