Reproducibility and stability of the immature platelet fraction using Sysmex XN-10

Abstract

Background

The Immature Platelet Fraction (IPF) is an indicator of thrombopoiesis which is a useful parameter in thrombocytopenia. It demonstrates compensatory mechanisms in production of platelets, but currently not implemented in routine clinical practice. The aim of this study was to establish the reproducibility and stability of IPF, for both percentage (%-IPF) and absolute (A-IPF) measurements.

Material/methods: A total of 71 samples, of which 45 for reproducibility and 26 for stability analysis, were assayed for full blood count using the Sysmex XN-10 analyser at room temperature (RT:19–25 °C). For reproducibility analysis, IPF measurements were analysed 11 times by different appraisers using the same sample, while for stability analysis, IPF was measured over fourteen hourly-intervals up to 24 h (n = 21) and then separately extended beyond the point of stability to 72 h (n = 5).

Results

Reproducibility analysis of %-IPF and A-IPF (n = 45) showed very reliable results, with the range of mean CV% values between 1.25–8.90% and 1.70–9.96%, respectively. On the other hand, overall, stability analysis of %-IPF and A-IPF (n = 21) at RT over 24 h showed reliable results, with pooled mean CV% values of 1.32% and 1.43%, respectively, with no significant difference between %-IPF and A-IPF (p = 0.767 and p = 0.821). All %-IPF and A-IPF values had exceeded the set acceptance criterion of stability (CV% ≥ 10.0%) before 72 h.

Conclusions

Overall, %-IPF and A-IPF reproducibility and storage at RT for 24 h predominantly demonstrates the suitability of their usage for testing on the Sysmex XN-series analysers.

Keywords:

• Blood platelets
• thrombocytes and primary haemostasis
• thrombocytopenia
• blood cell count
• pathology

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Department of Haematology, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (in partnership with the Royal London Hospital) for their assistance during this project.

Authors’ contributions

UA designed the project and wrote the paper, GK, MC and late DAT critically reviewed the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.