OBJECTIVES: To determine the statistical agreement between hematocrit and platelet counts obtained via peripheral venous catheters and venous puncture. It also aims to compare the success rate of obtaining samples via PVC and the hemolysis rate between different gauges of IV catheter. DESIGN: Prospective Cross-sectional Study. PARTICIPANTS: Clinically stable patients admitted for dengue aged 1 to 18 years old and are eligible to be enrolled in the study. Twenty-two patients were enrolled and completed the study. INTERVENTION: Paired samples of venous blood collection using venipuncture and PVC on the contralateral arm was done during daily serial CBC monitoring. Hematocrit and platelet values between the two methods were analyzed using Bland-Altman Analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Statistical agreement of platelet and hematocrit levels obtained using PVC and Venipuncture. RESULTS: We had 22 patients and a total of 67 paired samples. Out of the 67 samples submitted, two samples each from PVC (2.9%) and venipuncture (2.9%) were clotted. There was100% success rate in both methods at the first attempt of collection. None on the samples had hemolysis. On the average, hematocrit measurements from venipuncture are increased by 1.17 (units) compared to PVC, while platelet measurements from PVC are increased by 4.83 (units) compared to venipuncture. There is no significant difference in both platelet count and hematocrit between the two methods, demonstrating agreement between the two methods. CONCLUSIONS There is statistical agreement between samples drawn from PVC and venipuncture in terms of hematocrit and platelet counts in dengue pediatric patients. Success rate and hemolysis rates between the two methods are the same. PVC is an acceptable alternative to venipuncture.
Hematocrit ; Platelet Count

We studied in 40 platelet concentrates (PCs) prepared by two methods: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) (n= 20) and buffy coat (BC) (n=10) and evaluated the changes of platelet count, white blood cell count, glucose concentration and pH during the 4 days-storage. There was not significant difference between two groups for platelet count, glucose concentration at the day 0. After 4 days, the platelet’s loss in PCs- PRP was significantly lower than that in PCs-BC (4.93x 109 Vs 7.14 x 109, p<0,05) and PCs- PRP had the lower glucose consumption than PCs- BC (53.6 mg% vs 115.9 mg%, non significant). The WBC counts and pH were higher in PCs- PRP than those in PCs-BC at day 0, but the WBC’s decreasing during the storage as not different between two groups, the pH of PCs-BC reduced more quickly than that of PCs- PRP are more stable than those in PCs- BC during 4 day storage.
Blood Platelets ; Platelet Count ; Leukocyte Count ; Glucose

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2003 with about 430 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, platelet count, white cell differential count, red blood cell morphology and coagulation test. The response rate was more than 95%. The performance of quality assessment appeared to be gradually improved year by year.
Equidae* ; Erythrocyte Count ; Erythrocytes ; Hematology* ; Korea* ; Leukocyte Count ; Platelet Count

Transfusion can cause transfusion-transmitted diseases and various transfusion reactions. Recent improvements in the safety of blood supply and the increasing costs associated with transfusion therapies have led to a re-evaluation of the clinical practices of blood transfusion and blood conservation, which need practical guidelines for the use of constituent parts of blood. The traditional threshold of the hemoglobin concentration at 10g /dL for RBC transfusion has moved down to 7g /dL, and that of the platelet count at 20 x 10(9)/L for platelet transfusion can also be lowered to 5 x 10(9)/L. To improve the transfusion practice, as recommended by the guidelines, a prospective audit allied to educational programs can be effective in modifying the clinicians' practices of requesting transfusions.
Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Transfusion ; Platelet Count ; Platelet Transfusion

BACKGROUND: In Korea, a platelet transfusion dose (TD) of 8 units of platelet concentrates (PC) is usually used. To minimize the shortage of blood products and transfusion-related adverse reactions, the TD has been changed from 8 to 6 units in 2006 in our hospital. Here, we analyzed the dose reduction effect on patients' platelet counts and transfusion frequency. METHODS: We compared the amount of issued PC, platelet counts before and after transfusion, post-transfusion platelet increments, and transfusion frequencies in patients who were transfused with 8 PC in 2006 and 6 PC in 2008. RESULTS: Despite an increase in the number of admitted patients by 20% in 2008 with a disease distribution similar to that in 2006, the number of issued PC in 2008 was decreased by 26.6% compared to that in 2006. In 2008, post-transfusion platelet counts, pre-transfusion platelet counts in patients transfused with 320 mL whole blood-derived PC, and platelet increments in patients transfused with 400 mL whole blood-derived PC were significantly decreased. However, the mean transfusion frequency per one month was not significantly different, 4.3 times in 2006 and 4.7 in 2008. CONCLUSIONS: By implementing a policy of platelet TD restriction, the amount of total issued PC was markedly decreased. Although post-transfusion platelet counts were decreased, the transfusion frequency in a month was not significantly increased. The restriction of platelet TD was helpful for increasing physicians' recognition of blood shortage while achieving similar transfusion effects. We conclude that 6 units of PC would be a better guideline for the platelet TD.
Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Organizational Policy ; Platelet Count ; *Platelet Transfusion

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors influencing platelet transfusion results so as to improve the platelet transfusion efficiency.

METHODSAccording to the clinical symptoms (bleeding condition is stopped or improved)and the corrected count of increment (CCI), the patients were divided into efficient transfusion and inefficient transfusion groups. A total of 20 671 patients' clinical data and main platelet transfusion parameters in 26 045 tranfusions including platelet count of per- and post- transfusion, platelet component sorts, storage time and transfusion number were analysed.

RESULTSThe comparison of platelet transfusion efficiency in age and sex between two groups did not showed statistical difference (P > 0.05), the platelet count before transfusion between two groups showed statistical difference (t = -5.59, P < 0.001) after converting to log, a significant linear correlation did not exist between storage time of the platelet and CCI (corrected count of increment), but there was statistical difference in transfusion efficiency of patients with different diseases. The patients with hematologic diseases showed lower efficiency of platelet transfusion. According to the results of Wilcocon test detection, there was difference between different times of transfusion and transfusion efficiency, that is to say, the transfusion frequency was higher, the transfusion efficency was lower. The Fisher test indicated that the transfusion efficiency of single platelet transfusion was lower than that of transfussed platelet with other blood components (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPlatelet transfusion efficiency associates with many factors, including different diseases, whether being transfused with other blood components, the platelet count before transfusion, transfusion frequency, but the time of storage does not relate to the transfusion efficacy.

The effect of lithium carbonate was investigated on the five cases of aplastic anemia with measuring of serum level and EKG check. Reticulocyte count increased slightly only in one case. Hemoglobin, WBC and platelet count did not show any significant increase in all cases. No apparent side effect, including EKG finding, was observed.
Anemia, Aplastic* ; Electrocardiography ; Lithium Carbonate* ; Lithium* ; Platelet Count ; Reticulocyte Count

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of high volume platelet reduction therapy on the white blood cell (WBC) count and hemoglobin (Hb) level in patients with thrombocytosis. METHODS: Thirty-two plateletphoreses were performed for patients with thromocytosis by using ELP or MNC program of blood component isolator of COBE spectra continuous flow concentrifugation and the ACD-A preservation solution for blood as blood anticoagulant. In each treatment of patients, 2.5-3.0 tines total blood volume (TBV) were circulated, then the platelet suspension of 1/5-1/4 time TBV was prepared and collected. RESULTS: A single plateletpheresis took (212.53±41.54) minutes in which (8 812.63±2087.15) ml blood were treated, and (798.84±190.77) ml platelet suspension was collected. In the suspension, the platelet count was 4 486.50 (3 058.50-5 279.50)×10/L, containing 3 455.50 (2 288.68-4 226.71)×10. WBC count was 13.79 (10.21-20.72)×10/L, containing 11.90(7.81-14.40)×10. Hemoglobin concentration was (3.28±1.25) g/L，containing (2.62 ± 1.17) g. Before and after plateletpheresis, the patients' platelet count was 1 263.00 (1 052.50-1 807.50)×10/L and (778.83±247.25)×10/L（Z=4.94, P＜0.01), WBC count was 9.96(6.44-14.01)×10/L and 8.59(5.37, 13.12)×10/L (Z=13.31, P＜0.05), Hemoglobin concentration was (112.63 ± 24.56)g/L and (109.55 ± 24.46)g/L (t=1.68，P＞0.05). CONCLUSION Using continuous flow centrifugation and blood component separating in plateletpheresis for the patients with thrombocytosis can obviously decrease the high ratio of platelets, and improve the effect of plateletpheresis. The high volume platelet reduction therapy can lead to decrease of WBC count to some alent, degree but WBC count still in the normal range, moreover not affect the hemoglobin level significantly.
Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Platelet Count ; Plateletpheresis ; Thrombocytosis

BACKGROUND: Platelet clumping is a common cause of erroneous platelet counts by automated blood cell counter. The most commonly employed solution to this problem is to redraw the specimen into a different anticoagulant. However, this is unpleasant for the patient and not rapid for reporting of the corrected platelet count. Mixing of blood with a vortex mixer was evaluated as a method to disaggregate platelet clumps in blood and thus obtain accurate platelet counts. METHODS: Whole blood samples coated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) from 28 patients with platelet clumping and 20 controls without platelet clumping from July to September 2002 were mixed for 30 seconds with a vortex mixer. Platelet counts, blood smears, erythrocyte counts, Hgb, MCV and total leukocyte counts were evaluated before and after mixing. RESULTS: Vortex mixing of blood samples with platelet clumps caused an increased platelet count in 96% (27/28) and a decreased total leukocyte count in 68% (19/28). The mean platelet and total leukocyte counts of 28 blood samples before mixing were 155.0+/-89.6 (x10(3)/microL) and 12.9+/-5.5 (x10(3)/microL) and after mixing they were 249.2+/-116.2 (x10(3)/microL) and 12.0+/-5.4 (x10(3)/microL). Total erythrocyte counts, Hgb, MCV were not significantly affected by vortex mixing. Further, vortex mixing of 20 control samples had no consistent effect on each items. CONCLUSIONS: Vortex mixing of blood samples is a simple, rapid method without re-sampling in correction of erroneous platelet count induced by platelet clumps.
Blood Cell Count ; Blood Platelets ; Edetic Acid ; Erythrocyte Count ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Platelet Count*

Four trials of external quality assessment in diagnostic hematology were performed in 2004 with about 440 participating laboratories in Korea. We performed quality assessment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, platelet count, white cell differential count, red blood cell morphology and coagulation test. The response rate was more than 96%. The coefficients of variation in hemoglobin and RBC number was stable but variable in platelet number and WBC number according to measuring cell counts. Blood coagulation study was performed twice. Test results show wide variation according to measuring machine and reagents.
Blood Coagulation ; Cell Count ; Equidae* ; Erythrocyte Count ; Erythrocytes ; Hematology* ; Indicators and Reagents ; Korea* ; Leukocyte Count ; Platelet Count