Abstract

A complete blood count provides critical information for disease diagnosis as well as prophylaxis in herd health programmes. During the last 30 years, automated haematology analysers have increasingly replaced microscopic methods. Because most haematology analysers are made for human blood, adjustments are required for the examination of blood from domestic animal species. A total of 399 blood samples, collected from cows immediately prior to parturition to 5 days post partum, were analysed using the blood analyser Cell-Dyn 3500 (Abbott Diagnostica, Delkenheim, Germany). Results of erythrocyte, platelet and leucocyte counts as well as haematocrit were compared with results obtained using reference methods. The two parameters, carry-over and within-batch precision, were within the tolerated ranges. High correlations were calculated for erythrocytes (r=0.859), leucocytes (r=0.960), haematocrit (r=0.968) neutrophils (r=0.973), eosinophils (r=0.876) and lymphocytes (r=0.802). Moderate correlations were calculated for platelets (r=0.706) and monocytes (r=0.578) whereas no meaningful correlation could be established for basophilic granulocytes.