Investigation and analysis on the application of peripheral blood specimens for routine blood testing by laboratory physicians

BACKGROUND Owing to its simplicity, speed, small incision, and low cost, peripheral blood collection is widely used in routine blood testing. However, there are certain differences between the detection results of peripheral and venous blood specimens. This investigation and analysis aimed to investigate and analyze the status and opinions of laboratory physicians on the application of peripheral blood for routine blood testing. METHODS A questionnaire was used to investigate and analyze the current status of laboratory physicians with regards to routine peripheral blood testing. The content of the questionnaire included the following aspects: the proportion of peripheral blood specimens, the difficulty of detecting peripheral blood, factors affecting the results of peripheral blood specimens, the proportion of the simultaneous detection of blood test and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as the proportion and ideals of hypersensitive CRP (hs-CRP), which included a total of 10 re-examination rules. RESULTS Laboratory physicians from 410 hospitals participated in the investigation. The proportion of routine blood tests using peripheral blood specimens in the laboratory departments of tertiary hospitals was low (P=0.006). Difficulties in routine blood tests with peripheral blood specimens were dominated by insufficient blood volume (67.8%). The factors affecting the results of routine blood tests with peripheral blood specimens were dominated by the mixing method (86.6%). When abnormal results were determined by routine blood tests using peripheral blood specimens, they were retested most commonly by making slide smears (82.4%) or re-examined using the remaining peripheral blood (66.1%). The same rules for re-examination of peripheral and venous blood were applied in most medical institutions (86.1%). When the platelet count decreased in routine blood tests using peripheral blood samples, the most common measures included sample agglutination checks (88.5%), instrument alarm message checks (82.4%), and making slide smears for re-examination (73.6%). More laboratory physicians expected blood analyzers to be integrated instruments that could provide both routine blood and hs-CRP testing (80.5%). CONCLUSIONS There are numerous difficulties in routine blood testing using peripheral blood, and thus, more convenient and accurate blood analysis instruments should be developed.