Differentiation of segmented and band neutrophils during the early newborn period

R L Schelonka; B A Yoder; R B Hall; T M Trippett; D S Louder; J R Hickman; C G Guerra

doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(95)70314-4

Differentiation of segmented and band neutrophils during the early newborn period

J Pediatr. 1995 Aug;127(2):298-300. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(95)70314-4.

Authors

R L Schelonka¹, B A Yoder, R B Hall, T M Trippett, D S Louder, J R Hickman, C G Guerra

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Wilford Hall Medical Center/PSP, Lackland AFB, TX 78236-5300, USA.

PMID: 7636659
DOI: 10.1016/s0022-3476(95)70314-4

Abstract

This prospective study evaluated the degree of inter-reader variability in the identification of segmented and band neutrophils from blood smears of full-term, healthy neonates. Wide inter-reader differences of band neutrophil identification and the immature to total neutrophil ratio were observed. Because of poor correlation between evaluators of the same blood smear, the clinical utility of the manual differential leukocyte count in the evaluation of neonates is limited.

MeSH terms

Blood Specimen Collection
Humans
Infant, Newborn / blood*
Leukocyte Count / methods
Neutrophils / cytology*
Observer Variation
Prospective Studies
Reference Values
Reproducibility of Results