Validation Study of Inter-Laboratory Haematology Results in Enugu, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: A reliable and reproducible Medical Laboratory (Haematology) result needs internal and external quality control within the Medical Laboratory facilities and participation in external proficiency testing program such as this validation checks of inter-laboratory haematology results in Enugu – Nigeria. Objectives: This study was done to assess haematology laboratory performance and uniformity of results through comparison of manual and automated methods by participating laboratories in reporting test samples sent for complete blood counts and CD4–T-cell counts. Materials and Method: A total number of 10 subjects (males and females) were selected for this research study. Blood samples were collected from each of these subjects and were aliquoted each and distributed to 11 laboratories for analysis. The result generated from each laboratory was subjected to robust statistical analysis. Results and Discussions:The result revealed a significant statistical difference (P 0.05) observed in white blood cell count, lymphocytes count, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell count, Granulocytes, Haemoglobin, Haematocrit, mean cell volume, platelets count, Red blood cell count, and CD4 – cell counts between the automated techniques. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean lymphocyte counts, Haemoglobin concentration and mean cell haemoglobin concentrations when manual and automated methods where compared. These inverse correlations existing in the correlation of different results gotten from different laboratory facilities and different methods of haematological analysis may pose great diagnostic challenges in the clinical management / treatment of various disease conditions such as iron deficiency anaemia, etc. Conclusion: Report showed that inter-laboratory differences exist in Haematology.