RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Cytographic changes on BC-6800 Haematological Analyzer related to the presence of Candida albicans in peripheral blood. A new tool to suspect candidemia? JF Journal of Clinical Pathology JO J Clin Pathol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists SP 494 OP 499 DO 10.1136/jclinpath-2016-204078 VO 70 IS 6 A1 Antonio La Gioia A1 Alessandra Devito A1 Fabiana Fiorini A1 Maria Bombara A1 Patrizia Isola A1 Barbara Spinale A1 Lucia Francioni A1 Domenico Salamone A1 Paola Marelli A1 Sabrina Buoro A1 Marcello Fiorini YR 2017 UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/70/6/494.abstract AB Background We studied the quantitative and cytographic changes that the presence of Candida albicans (C. albicans) in peripheral blood (PB) samples causes on the Mindray BC-6800 Haematological Analyzer.Methods A simulated in vitro candidemia was obtained by adding a different amount of C. albicans to discarded remnants of PB samples. Quantitative data and cytographic features were evaluated immediately as well as after 120 and 240 min of the yeast addition. A microscopic slides review was even performed at the same time.Results After yeasts addition, an increase of total leucocytes, neutrophils and basophils have been observed, but these increases are not certainly descriptive of C. albicans presence.Instead, extracellular blastospores cause a false increase in nucleated red blood cells (nRBCs), which appear as a new population in the specific counting channel for erytroblasts (NRBC channel). Regardless of the numbers, C. albicans form a pseudo-erythroblastic cluster in the NRBC channel whose resulting shape is so different than the ‘normal’ nRBC that it demands a microscopic review. Even cytographic changes related with the neutrophilic phagocytic activity have been observed on leucocyte's differential count citogram (DIFF) of the BC-6800.Conclusions Our observations suggest that the results of the BC-6800, which are due to C. albicans' presence, might be useful to speculate earlier diagnosis of sepsis.