Hematological Parameters: Manual vs Automated Method; Among the β-Thalassemia and other Haemoglobinopathies in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kolkata

Abstract

Background: According to a report of WHO in 2007, 7% of world populations are carrier for Haemoglobin
disorder and accurate and timely detection of various Hb variants including beta thalassemia trait can prevent
occurrence of more serious disorders like thalassemia major in new-borns. But in a developing country like us
use of high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) is limited, manual testing is done and accurate assessment
is quite impossible. So, an observational cross-sectional study was done among 117 β-thalassemia and other
Hemoglobinopathies cases and carriers.
Objective: To find out the variation between the results of haematological tests obtained by automated counting
chamber and manual method.
Materials & Methods: This Observational, cross-sectional study was done at Thalassemia control unit and Physiology
department of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. β-thalassemia and other Hemoglobinopathies cases
and carriers detected by complete blood count with HPLC from Thalassemia Outpatient Department (OPD) and
antenatal mothers from antenatal clinic (ANC) were the population of this study. Findings and variations of the
features of different hematological parameters amongst the β-thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies were
reviewed. A finding by HPLC was HbA, HbA2, HbF, HbD, and HbE.
Results: Result of only Hb% obtained from HPLC and manual method was significantly different in
β- THALASSEMIA Trait (p=0.0001), HbE Trait (p=0.0001), HbS trait (p=0.0001) and not significant in HbE disease
and no other Red cell indices were significantly different in two methods. Conclusion: As hematological features
like TC of RBC or PCV results by manual method shows no significant differences with HPLC/Automated counter assessment, such methods can be utilized even at primary level cost effectively for assessment of hematological
disorders. But significant difference is seen in estimating Hemoglobin percentage in between Shalli‘s method and
HPLC/Automated counter assessment. So some alternate method may introduce at lower level of health system
other than Shalli’s method