Complete Blood Count (CBC): Automated versus Manual Differential

Abstract

We have evolved into an automated high tech practice of medicine. With speed and automated precision we have sacrificed diagnostic information. The automated differential reports out groups of white blood cell types. With a manual differential, those groups are more specifically differentiated including immature neutrophils (bands) and atypical lymphocytes which are not routinely reported with an automated differential. When an automated differential is done, there may be certain triggers that would necessitate a manual differential be done.