There was an interesting discussion in one of
the Facebook groups I follow this morning centred on
this paper.
“In spite of the continual standardization of test result formats, the
improvements
of laboratory technologies, publications of reference
guidelines,
and the advancements in hematology analyzers, the
methods
of reporting or grading abnormal red blood cell morphology still vary
among
laboratories everywhere. This article describes
the
methods or systems of reporting abnormal red cell morphology
and the
conditions associated with the abnormalities”
…
“For example in report-ing spherocytes, one laboratory location may
grade
result of
9% spherocytic cells as 1+ or slight while others report or grade the same result
of 9% as ++ or moderate and 3+ or marked. Without standardization, the
differences between two results may be confusing which may lead to inconsistent
diagnostic interpretation, thereby affecting treatment and clinical outcome”
This is something I’ve been discussing with a
colleague recently. Morphology has always been something of an art. It really
needs to become more of a science. Perhaps our Monday morning morphology
get-togethers might at least standardise us amongst ourselves in our workplace…
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