PC100 vs hematology analyzers: which is the right way to count platelets? Automated hematology analyzers are the reference for complete blood counts in the laboratory, but they are designed for whole blood in a laboratory workflow. The PC100 was developed for a different job: a fast, reliable platelet count at the point of care, in whole blood and in concentrated PRP. Below we compare the two approaches on the criteria that matter in daily practice.
PC100 vs hematology analyzers at a glance
| Automated hematology analyzer | PC100 point-of-care platelet counter | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it is used | Central or hospital laboratory | At the point of care, on any desk |
| Sample volume | Venous EDTA tube | 20 µl venous blood or 10 µl PRP |
| PRP (high concentrations) | Optimised for whole blood; concentrated PRP usually needs dilution | Validated for PRP 250-3600 plt/nL |
| Whole blood range | Full CBC including platelets | Platelets 20-600 plt/nL |
| Calibration and QC | Daily QC, periodic calibration, on-board reagents | No calibration; single-use slides and reagent |
| Cleaning and maintenance | Regular cleaning cycles and service contracts | No cleaning procedures |
| Operator | Trained laboratory staff | Minimal training |
| Time to result | Minutes of analysis plus sample transport and batching | About 4 minutes on site |
| Result documentation | Laboratory information system | Report with images, printable and exportable |
In the peer-reviewed study in Thrombosis Journal, PC100 results were compared with the Sysmex XP-300 and XN-9000 analyzers in whole blood and PRP and were found to be interchangeable with the reference methods. Read the summary on our analytical performance page.
HEMATOLOGY ANALYZERs TYPICALLY USED IN CONTROLLED LABORATORY CONDITIONS
Currently, there are various automated methods available for determination of platelet counts, with the majority mainly performed in controlled laboratory conditions. Moreover, several point-of-care (PoC) hematology analyzers have been tested in research and clinical settings providing complete blood cell (CBC) measurements including platelet counts. Automated hematology analyzers need trained personnel for maintenance and require frequent cleaning. Therefore haematology analysers are less suited for Point of Care applications.
hematology analyzerS for counting platelets
Platelet count can be altered by various diseases and treatments and measuring it may provide better insight into the expected outcome. So far, quantification of platelet count is done within laboratory conditions by using established hematology analyzer equipment. Outside clinical laboratories point-of-care devices, like the PC100 platelet counter, could offer a more practical solution that can be executed without extensive training, cleaning or maintenance.
HEMATOLOGY ANALYZERS FOR COUNTING PLATELETS IN WHOLE BLOOD. NOT IN CONCENTRATED PRP.
However, these hematology analyzers are focused on performing platelet counts in whole blood samples, and not on platelet rich plasma (PRP) samples which may contain an extreme high platelet count. In regenerative medicine, PRP with a tremendous number of platelets can be used and hence a reliable platelet counter with the capability of measuring these extreme platelet counts would be favorable.
THE PC100 POINT OF CARE AUTOMATED PLATELET COUNTER
The PC100 automated platelet counter has been developed with the intended use of being a point-of-care device used outside of laboratory for measuring platelet count. The PC100 is an optical platelet counter using a patented optical imaging technique that enables the precise quantification of platelets, even at extremely high and extremely low concentrations.
PC100 VERSUS AUTOMATED HEMATOLOGY ANALYSERS for counting platelets
Together with the Maastricht UMC+, Clinical Thrombosis & Hemostasis Department in the Netherlands we evaluated the performance of the PC100 automated platelet counter for platelet counts in whole blood and platelet count in platelet rich plasma (PRP). The main conclusion of this research is that the PC100 platelet counter can be used interchangeably with commercial hematology analyzers for determining platelet counts as it also provides reliable and accurate results. The strength of the PC100 is that it combines fast and accurate platelet count results with an easy procedure that can be executed with limited training without extensive maintenance or cleaning.
When to choose which
A hematology analyzer remains the right choice when a full blood count is needed and a laboratory with trained staff is available. The PC100 is the better fit when only the platelet concentration is required and the count has to be made where the sample is taken: in a PRP practice before injection, in a clinic without a laboratory, in decentralised or low-resource settings, or in research where many small samples are counted. In the PC100 vs hematology analyzers comparison, the deciding factors are usually turnaround time, PRP capability and the total cost of running a laboratory analyzer for a single parameter.
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