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Clinical Pathology Laboratory - Available Test
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Automated Hemograms and Panels
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| The Advia hematology analyzer used in the Clinical Pathology Laboratory
at Cornell University can perform an automated hemogram in dogs, cats,
horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, certain species of monkeys, rats
and mice. We recommend this test primarily for research samples. |
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Automated hemogram |
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| This provides the following parameters: |
Total leukocyte count-
Differential leukocyte count (absolute values): This includes
neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils and
large unstained cells (LUC). Large unstained cells are either
large or reactive lymphocytes, monocytes or leukemic blasts. In
most animals, they are large lymphocytes or monocytes.
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Red cell parameters: RBC count, Hgb concentration, HCT,
red cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC and RDW).
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Platelet parameters: Platelet count and MPV. A platelet
count will only be provided if the Advia provides a relatively
accurate count. If the Advia detects platelet clumps, this will
be flagged on the report.
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| A blood smear examination, plasma appearance and total protein (by
refractometer) assessment is not performed with an auomated CBC. Furthermore,
a reticulocyte count is not automatically added to samples from dogs
(HCT < 39%) and cats (HCT < 25%). The total leukocyte count
(and absolute differential cell counts) are not corrected for nucleated
red blood cells, as these are not individually quantified by the analyzer.
Therefore, the auomated hemogram does not provide the following information: |
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Assessment of red cell morphology
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Assessment of white cell morphology: This includes details such
as toxic change. The Advia cannot quantify a left shift (bands
are included in the total neutrophil count).
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Evaluation for erythroparasites or other infectious agents (e.g.
Ehrlichia).
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Automated WBC panel |
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| This provides the following information: |
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Total leukocyte count
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Differential leukocyte count (absolute values): This includes
neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils and
large unstained cells (LUC). Large unstained cells are either
large or reactive lymphocytes, monocytes or leukemic blasts. In
most animals, they are large lymphocytes or monocytes.
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General Points Regarding Automated Hematology Tests |
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Correlations: |
- Studies in our laboratory in populations of both healthy and
sick animals has shown that the automated differential cell count
correlates well with manual (counting cells in a blood smear)
neutrophil and lymphocyte counts in all species evaluated (dogs,
cats, horses, cattle and goats). The correlation to eosinophils
is species-dependent (good in dogs, healthy cats, cattle and goats;
weaker in sick cats, horses). The correlation to monocytes is
weak (all species evaluated) and poor for basophils (all species
evaluated).
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Accuracy: |
- In some samples, the automated differential count will be inaccurate.
This usually occurs in old samples and samples with large numbers
of platelet clumps. When this occurs, a comment will be appended
to the automated differential cell count, indicating that it is
inaccurate and recommending that a manual differential cell count
be performed on the sample (this will need to be added on as an
extra test for an additional charge). The automated hemogram is
accurate for at least 24 hours in samples maintained at 4°C
in dogs, cats, horses and cattle.
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Abnormalities: |
- In some cases, abnormalities in the leukocytes may be apparent
in certain samples in the data from the Advia. e.g. large numbers
of nucleated red blood cells, the presence of a left shift. In
these cases, we will flag the automated differential to highlight
these abnormalities may be present. In such cases, we recommend
that a blood smear examination be performed (which will include
a manual differential cell count).
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