Comparison of Total White Blood Cell Counts on the Technicon H6000 and Coulter Counter Model ZBI in an Occupational Health Program

摘要

White blood cell (WBC) counts obtained using a Technicon H6000 in a large occupational health program were compared with counts obtained on identical samples using a Counter Counter Model ZBI. To assure quality control and to assess the comparability of results obtained on the two machines, a 25% systematic sample (N = 586) of analyses performed on the Technicon were independently and blindly performed on the Coulter Counter. The Pearson product-moment-correlation between WBC counts from the two machines was r = .94 (p less than or = .0001). The mean WBC count was 6,664 cells/cu.mm for the Technicon and 6,790 cells/cu.mm for the Coulter Counter. The estimated prevalence of leukopenia (WBC counts less than or = 4,500 cells/cu.mm) was 10.6% using the Technicon and 9.7% using the Coulter Counter. The results demonstrate that the two machines provide results which can be directly compared without corrections.