Comparison of Methodologies for Detecting Reticulated Platelets and Establishment of Normal Reference Range

• Comparison of Methodologies for Detecting Reticulated Platelets and Establishment of Normal Reference Range

AUTHOR(S)

KUANG Miaohuan, LUO Yaoling, YAN Suli, and CHI Peidong

State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China / Department of Laboratory Medicine of Cancer Center, SUN Yat-sen University

SUMMARY

Aims : To compare the detection methodologies of reticulated platelets and establish the normal reference range.

Methods : The percentage of reticulated platelets in a healthy population was measured by two methods ; the Sysmex XE-5000 blood cell analyzer using polymethyl oxazine staining, and a flow cytometer using thiazole orange staining. The correlation between the two methods was analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of the two methods were clarified. Statistical analysis for the reference ranges in the two methods was conducted.

Result : The correlation between the two methods was r = 0.67. The reference range for polymethyl oxazine staining was 1.0% – 7.5%, and the reference range for thiazole orange staining was 3.0% – 10.5%.

Conclusion : Polymethyl oxazine staining was simpler and more stable than thiazole orange staining, and is therefore a preferable method for detecting reticulated platelets.

KEY WORDS

Reticulated Platelets ( RPs ), Thiazole Orange ( TO ), Polymethyl Oxazine ( PO ), Immature Platelet Fraction ( IPF )