Performance Evaluation Of Optical Platelet Counting Of Bc-6000plus Automated Hematology Analyzer

Background: The BC-6000Plus (Mindray, Shenzhen, China) is a recently developed hematology analyzer that utilizes fluorescent technology. Based on fluorescent nucleic acid stain and optical detection, the optical platelet counting ( PLT-O) on the BC-6000Plus has strong anti- interference potential in platelet (PLT) detection. Its Auto 8xPLT-O Counting Tech can be automatically triggered in low-PLT samples, which enables the PLT-O on the BC-6000Plus to count low PLT more efficiently. Here, we evaluated the performance of the BC-6000Plus automated hematology analyzer in optical PLT counting.Methods: The basic features (including blank counting, carryover, trueness, and accuracy) of the BC6000Plus for PLT counting were evaluated according to the Analytical Quality Specifications for Routine Tests in Clinical Hematology (WST 406-2012). Low-PLT samples with a PLT count of below 100x10(9)/L were selected for repeatability tests. Meanwhile, the potential correlations of BC-6000Plus with the XN-L 350 and manual microscopy within different PLT ranges or under interferences of small red blood cells (RBCs) or PLT aggregation were analyzed.Results: The PLT-O on BC-6000Plus met the technical requirements of PLT counting in terms of blank count, carryover, trueness, and accuracy. The repeatability of the enhanced mode (PLT-O 8x) on the BC6000Plus was better than that of the XN-L 350 in three low PLT count ranges, including 10-20, 20-60, and 60-100 (x10(9)/L). Under the interference-free conditions, the BC-6000Plus correlated well with the XN-L 350 in different PLT counting ranges. Under the interferences of small RBCs and PLT aggregation, the PLT-O on BC-6000Plus correlated better with microscopy than with the platelet impedance count (PLT-I).Conclusions: The PLT-O on BC-6000Plus can meet the technical requirements of PLT counting in terms of blank counting, carryover rate, trueness, and accuracy. The PLT-O 8x has good repeatability, correlates well with the XN-L 350, and demonstrates good anti-interference ability. It can thus meet the needs of blood cell analysis in clinical settings.