TATA Hospital, Kolkata, which had released a case book based on a study of VCS data in leukaemias at the last Haematocon 2013 conference held at Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, is continuing the research for a larger study.
In his preface to the case book, the author, Dr ( Col ) Deepak Ku Mishra, Head, Dept of Haemato-Pathology, Head, Department of Laboratory Sciences, TATA Medical Center Kolkata believe that VCS data in leukaemias in the small initial study have shown great promise to be used in clinical settings and feel sure that more observers will look at these parameters critically to validate its importance. Since TATA Hospital, Kolkata is predominantly a cancer centre, these parameters were studied in a number of patients, and remain under observation for a larger study.
Advances in automated blood cell counters have enabled haemocytometry to move beyond the boundaries of simple blood cell counting to precise identification of cells and near morphologic assessment. Though it is not likely to replace microscopic morphology in the near future, the newer technologies has been able to consistently support morphologic diagnosis.
Titled “VCS : A Window to diagnosis of Acute Leukaemias” the case book has considerable clinical utility to hematopathologist and technical staff in day to day practice as the recent generation of blood cell counters has multiple parameters which are still in the research mode and are not part of reportable results.
Study of volume, conductivity and scatter ( VCS ) parameters in the higher LH series Beckman Coulter counters have the ability to identify red cell membrane disorders, malaria parasites, myelodysplasia and to some extent conform to morphological sub-types of leukaemias. WBC CPD information lets staff turn pictures of cell populations into numbers. The on-board user-defined decision rules allow the creation of rules that can be used as part of the decision criteria for smear review.
Speaking about the feedback received for the research book, Dr (Col) Mishra says,” The small book-let on the role of VCS parameters in blood cell analysis received over-whelming response following its launch during the Haematcon 2013 Conference at Mumbai. There were many enquiries regarding copies of this book-let not only from within the country but also from abroad. After its initial print of 500 copies, another 1500 copies had to be printed to cater to the inquisitiveness in pathologists / haemato-pathologists . Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata is continuing its study on this subject and now the data will only be sent to a peer reviewed journal for publication. The current book-let is only to high-light the importance of this study and to make people take note of its importance in clinical practice.”
EH News Bureau