Evaluation of the Sysmex SE-9500 WBC Morphological Flag "Blasts" in Pregnancy

• Evaluation of the Sysmex SE-9500 WBC Morphological Flag "Blasts" in Pregnancy

AUTHOR(S)

M. MACONI^＊１, B. CASOLARI^＊２, M. COLLELL^＊１ and A. M. CENCI^＊２

*1 Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliera O.I.R.M.-S.Anna
*2 Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Ospedale S. Agostino

SUMMARY

There is a tendency for the leukocyte count to increase during normal pregnancy.This is due mainly to an increase in segmented neutrophils and the count may, in fact, double.Immature myeloid cells can also be found, especially during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.When a complete blood count ( CBC ) is performed on EDTA anticoagulated specimens from pregnant women, the presence of these immature myeloid cells generates morphology flags.The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between the occurrence of the WBC morphology flag ‘Blasts' and the presence of morphological abnormalities on microscopy of the peripheral blood during pregnancy.

KEY WORDS

Automated Hematology Analyzer, Immature Leukocyte, Correlation, Pregnancy