Chapter 5 uses data assembled from manufacturers and from side by side performance evaluation conducted at the editors' laboratory. Both chapters include clear descriptions of methods and are supplemented with worked examples, data tables and appropriate illustrative examples taken from instrument evaluations. Chapter 6 considers the integration of an analyzer into the laboratory. For effective implementation, accurate and reliable results must be produced in a cost-efficient and timely manner. This chapter considers the factors affecting laboratory operation and workflow options, the criteria used for result review and quality control strategies. The text contains examples from the authors' laboratory and is well illustrated with flow charts. A final chapter is dedicated to future developments in cell counting technology. Improvements in current cell counting systems and the use of robotics and result auto-verification algorithms are described. A short section on trends in technology and clinical research concludes the chapter.
This review of current technology provides a balanced review of a broad field of instrumentation. Each analyzer may employ various methods for cell enumeration and identification. The authors have presented information on each technology in a detailed but readable fashion. Each chapter concludes with a short but useful reference and further reading section. This book will prove a valuable guide to any laboratory professional involved in the specification, evaluation, integration and use of modern hematology cell analyzers.