Use of capillary blood count parameters in adults

Background and Objectives  Capillary samples can provide blood for cell counts in haematologic patients and blood donors. However, some accept only values from venous blood. This study compares capillary and venous blood counts to verify the hypothesis that they are equivalent. Materials and Methods...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vox sanguinis 2007-11, Vol.93 (4), p.348-353
Main Authors: Schalk, E., Heim, M. U., Koenigsmann, M., Jentsch-Ullrich, K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anemia - blood
Anemia - diagnosis
Blood Cell Count - methods
blood counts
blood donors
Blood Specimen Collection - methods
capillary
Female
haematologic disease
Humans
Leukemia - blood
Lymphoma - blood
Male
Middle Aged
Myelodysplastic-Myeloproliferative Diseases - blood
venous
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background and Objectives  Capillary samples can provide blood for cell counts in haematologic patients and blood donors. However, some accept only values from venous blood. This study compares capillary and venous blood counts to verify the hypothesis that they are equivalent. Materials and Methods  We analysed 463 capillary (fingerstick) and venous blood samples from 428 adults of both sexes (71% haematologic patients, 29% potential blood and apheresis donors). Both samples were taken at the same time from each subject. Haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), white blood cells (WBC), platelets, red blood cells (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular Hb (MCH) and mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC) were measured using a haematology analyser (Advia 120, Bayer). Results  Capillary Hb, Hct, WBC, RBC, MCV and MCH were all significantly higher than the venous values [+0·2 mmol/l (+0·3 g/dl), +0·02 l/l (+2%), +0·2 × 109/l, +0·1 × 1012/l, +3·1 fl and +0·01 fmol, respectively], whereas the capillary MCHC was lower (–0·6 mmol/l). There was no difference in platelets (–1 × 109/l). Capillary Hb and Hct values were higher in patients with anaemia and polycythaemia, respectively. However, no significant differences occurred in severe thrombocytopenia. Conclusion  In adult haematologic patients, however, only the differences in Hb and Hct values may be of clinical relevance. For potential blood and apheresis donors, Hb and platelet screening are equivalent with either capillary and venous blood using a haematology analyser.
ISSN:0042-9007
1423-0410
DOI:10.1111/j.1423-0410.2007.00978.x