World Health Organization (WHO) announced COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic on 11th March 2020. COVID-19 caused its impact globally with a substantial morbidity and mortality in people across the world especially in those at a higher age group with comorbidities. Most of the organ systems are affected including hematopoietic system. We studied the hematological profile of 196 confirmed COVID-19 positive patients at our tertiary care center from 22nd March 2020 to 15th June 2020. Various hematological parameters including Haemoglobin(Hb), Total Leucocyte Count(TLC), Absolute Neutrophil count(ANC), Absolute Lymphocyte Count(ALC), Absolute Monocyte Count(AMC), Absolute Eosinophil Count(AEC), Platelet Count(PC), Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio(NLR), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate(ESR) and Peripheral blood smears were studied. We found Hb levels were decreasing in the patients with more severe disease. Leucopenia, lymphopenia, eosinopenia, neutrophilia, raised ESR and increasing NLR was seen in patients with more severe disease and those who succumbed to death. We also observed various morphological abnormalities in leucocytes in peripheral blood films of these patients. These parameters prove their prognostic significance in risk stratification in the COVID-19 positive patients for early intervention and deciding treatment regimens which may help to alleviate the morbidity and mortality. As these tests are easily available even at low resource settings, in developing country like India this study may help the patients who are being treated at peripheral centers to get referred to a higher center and get better treatment to reduce the morbidity and mortality.

Complete blood count (CBC) is the most commonly ordered investigation. It is most versatile yet most economical. CBC can be done by manual or automated method. This study evaluates the performance of two automated cell counters for the analysis of CBC. The main purpose of the study is to evaluate hematological parameters in various hematological disorders and to discuss the advantages, disadvantages of both instruments in relation with diagnosis of common hematological disorders. This prospective study was carried out at department of pathology in tertiary care hospital over the period of 2 years. Blood samples from 100 patients of age 13 years and above was collected into K3EDTA tube, and analyzed using both counters. The common hematological parameters between two counters were compared by using kappa test and then categorized into below normal, normal and above normal. The results were given in the form of strength of agreement (very good, good, fair and poor). Good to fair correlation were found for almost all parameters. However, MCV was underestimated by mythic 3part counter. The blood samples having too high and too low TLC were recognized only by sysmex. Thus this study concludes that, 5 part cell counter is technically more advanced with methodological superiority but 3part hematology analyzer is cost effective.