Cytographic changes on BC-6800 Haematological Analyzer related to the presence of Candida albicans in peripheral blood. A new tool to suspect candidemia?

摘要

Background We studied the quantitative and cytographic changes that the presence of Candida albicans ( C. albicans ) in peripheral blood (PB) samples causes on the Mindray BC-6800 Haematological Analyzer. > Methods A simulated in vitro candidemia was obtained by adding a different amount of C. albicans to discarded remnants of PB samples. Quantitative data and cytographic features were evaluated immediately as well as after 120 and 240?min of the yeast addition. A microscopic slides review was even performed at the same time. > Results After yeasts addition, an increase of total leucocytes, neutrophils and basophils have been observed, but these increases are not certainly descriptive of C. albicans presence. Instead, extracellular blastospores cause a false increase in nucleated red blood cells (nRBCs), which appear as a new population in the specific counting channel for erytroblasts (NRBC channel). Regardless of the numbers, C. albicans form a pseudo-erythroblastic cluster in the NRBC channel whose resulting shape is so different than the ‘normal’ nRBC that it demands a microscopic review. Even cytographic changes related with the neutrophilic phagocytic activity have been observed on leucocyte's differential count citogram (DIFF) of the BC-6800. > Conclusions Our observations suggest that the results of the BC-6800, which are due to C. albicans ' presence, might be useful to speculate earlier diagnosis of sepsis.]]>