Dear editor
We would like to acknowledge the author for sharing this interesting letter of technical note. Saying this, we do have some comments and suggestions.
1. Quality assurance in hematology covers the preanalytical, analytical and post analytical phases; all phases should be maintained to achieve accurate and reliable test results. It is known that the majority of laboratory errors are accounted for preanalytical errors and there are methods used to prevent its occurrence like delta check. Delta checks assess any change in a stable hematological parameter including the MCV, MCHC, and RDW. RDW is one of the stable parameters that could not be affected by short term patient events and it is reported that MCV, MCHC and RDW are stable for about 24 hours in vivo.
2. In two of our published articles ie
I. Hematological parameters of type 2 diabetic adult patients at Debre Berhan Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study.
II. Red Blood Cell Parameters and Their Correlation with Glycemic Control Among Type 2 Diabetic Adult Patients in Eastern Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.
For both of the above articles, we have mentioned that the blood samples were processed within 2 hours of specimen collection which is recommended by the International Council for Standardization in Haematology (ICSH). Again, in our case the potential time delay was too low since blood specimen was collected in the phlebotomy area of the laboratory and analyzed in the central laboratory. Indeed, the issue of time delay, transport and storage is not our case. So, the author needs to revise their letter regarding our paper.
The article published by Biadgo B.et al (cited as reference 6 in the letter) also mentioned the sample collection and analysis time in the quality assurance and management section of their paper. So, the letter needs amendment in this regard.
3. In addition, there is a citation problem specifically reference number 5 is miss cited. We think the correct article is entitled “Hematological parameters of type 2 diabetic adult patients at Debre Berhan Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study”. This line/citation needs a revision.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest related to this communication.