Alinity hq platelet count is not impacted by severe microcytosis

Background Impedance technology has been shown to overestimate platelet (PLT) count in samples with microcytes, while the optical‐fluorescence PLT count (PLT‐F) by Sysmex has been suggested to be unaffected by microcytosis. The Abbott Alinity hq analyzer employs multi‐dimensional optical PLT counting. Our goal was to assess the accuracy of this technology in microcytic samples. Methods Platelet measurements were performed by Alinity hq and the impedance (PLT‐I) and PLT‐F methods on a Sysmex XN‐3000 analyzer on 464 samples. PLT concentration range was 6.56–947 × 109/L and mean cell volume (MCV) 40.9–123.0 fL. Samples were categorized into normocytic (MCV > 80 fL), microcytic (MCV 65–80 fL), and severely microcytic (MCV