Hematological Parameters: Manual vs Automated Method; Among the β-Thalassemia and other Haemoglobinopathies in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kolkata

Abstract

Background: According to a report of WHO in 2007, 7% of world populations are carrier for Haemoglobindisorder and accurate and timely detection of various Hb variants including beta thalassemia trait can preventoccurrence of more serious disorders like thalassemia major in new-borns. But in a developing country like ususe of high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) is limited, manual testing is done and accurate assessmentis quite impossible. So, an observational cross-sectional study was done among 117 β-thalassemia and otherHemoglobinopathies cases and carriers.Objective: To find out the variation between the results of haematological tests obtained by automated countingchamber and manual method.Materials & Methods: This Observational, cross-sectional study was done at Thalassemia control unit and Physiologydepartment of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. β-thalassemia and other Hemoglobinopathies casesand carriers detected by complete blood count with HPLC from Thalassemia Outpatient Department (OPD) andantenatal mothers from antenatal clinic (ANC) were the population of this study. Findings and variations of thefeatures of different hematological parameters amongst the β-thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies werereviewed. A finding by HPLC was HbA, HbA2, HbF, HbD, and HbE.Results: Result of only Hb% obtained from HPLC and manual method was significantly different inβ- THALASSEMIA Trait (p=0.0001), HbE Trait (p=0.0001), HbS trait (p=0.0001) and not significant in HbE diseaseand no other Red cell indices were significantly different in two methods. Conclusion: As hematological featureslike TC of RBC or PCV results by manual method shows no significant differences with HPLC/Automated counter assessment, such methods can be utilized even at primary level cost effectively for assessment of hematologicaldisorders. But significant difference is seen in estimating Hemoglobin percentage in between Shalli‘s method andHPLC/Automated counter assessment. So some alternate method may introduce at lower level of health systemother than Shalli’s method