Abstract

This is a cross sectional study conducted in the National Center of Public Health Laboratories (NCPHL) of Aden – Yemen, during October-December 2011, with an overall aim to compare the results of platelet count by the automated versus the manual methods.
Study included 190 random samples, examined with confirmatory platelet estimate done by the stained thin blood film. The mean platelets count estimated by the manual method was 225.2 ± 95.4 × 109/L, while that estimated by the automated method was 245.7 ± 109.8 × 109/L, with no significant statistical difference between both means (p>0.05).
The Pearson correlation test showed significant positive correlation between both methods (r: 0.563), this correlation remained significant when the samples of normal count by the two methods were correlated (r: 0.359), but it was insignificant negative correlation when the samples of low or high counts by the two methods were correlated (r: -0.151 and -0.559) respectively.
This study concluded that significant positive correlation is present between the manual and the automated counting methods of platelets and recommended that platelet count is not varied when done by manual or automated methods, but in every method, it should be accompanied by platelet estimate, especially with abnormal counts.

Keywords: Platelet counting; Manual method; Automated method