Stepwise diagnostic procedure for the analysis of pathological changes of leukocytes

The automated analysis of changes of white blood cells and their differential has become a high-throughput laboratory investigation done by hematology analyzers. The subsequent step of manual review of a stained blood film by light microscopy by an experienced investigator is laborious and expensive and has insufficient reimbursement. However, this is the decisive step and basis for very expensive specialized diagnostics like cytogenetics and molecular genetics. The strategy for a stepwise diagnostic procedure plays an important role at this stage. A new proposal is presented here.