The usefulness of flow cytometry method in pleocytosis estimation in cerebrospinal fluid cells differentiation – preliminary results

Evaluation of CSF pleocytosis is routinely determined by microscopic examination. To shorten TAT automated methods are used. The aim of this study was to compare the automatic and microscopic methods in the evaluation of pleocytosis and the differentiation of white blood cells in CSF. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected from 89 patients. The examination was performed microscopically using the Fuchs-Rosenthal chamber and flow cytometry. There were no significant differences in group A (Pleocytosis <5 cells/μL) and B (Pleocytosis 5-600 cells/μL) in the WBC parameter. In group B, a statistical difference was found in PMN and MN parameters between these two methods (p <0.01). Negative bias for the PMN parameter and positive for the MN parameter were found in group B. The results showed that the determination of cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis by an automatic and microscopic methods are comparable. Qualitative changes in white blood cells limited these differentiation by flow cytometry method, so microscopic examination is mandatory