Publication:

Efficacy of RBC histogram in the diagnosis of morphological types of anaemia compared with peripheral smear

Background Anaemia constitutes an important diagnostic and clinical category of haematological disorders. Along with peripheral smear histogram is used to interpret the abnormal RBC morphology. The present study is to find out the efficacy of RBC histogram in diagnosis of morphological types of anaemia.

Methods A total of 354 blood samples of adults >18 years, Hb 90% sensitivity and specificity. Hemolytic has less sensitivity, more specificity. Overall sensitivity is 75%.

Conclusions Histogram is efficient in detecting normocytic and microcytic anaemia. In macrocytic anaemia among 40 cases detected by histogram only 7 showed concordance because histogram may detect slight variation in morphology not appreciable on light microscopy. In haemolytic anaemia only one case detected by histogram. The discordance is due to low sample size.