A comparison of differential leucocyte counts measured by conventional automated venous haematology and darkfield microscopic examination of fresh capillary blood

Despite significant differences in the mean scores of cells counts, significant correlations between the data obtained by the two techniques for neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte and eosinophil cells were observed. Given the small amount of blood sample required, FCB-DM would have an advantage in clinical practice, though further research is required to determine the clinical implications of the FCB-DM cell counts.