The grey zone of thrombocytopenia: accuracy of automated analyser vs manual method

Reliability of platelet estimation is essential to make clinical decision specially when platelet transfusion is considered (Figure 1). It is widely accepted that automation in hematology yield high precision and accuracy in haematological parameters in normal individuals.1–5 However, automated counting is still very controversial in cases of thrombocytopenic patients in which other small particles could generate electrical or optical signals that are similar to platelets, such as debris and red cell fragments.4,6–11