Hematology Research Parameters | Beckman Coulter
Products & Solutions
Back
Products & Solutions
Core Disciplines
Chemistry Immunoassay Hematology Urinalysis Microbiology Blood Banking Clinical Decision Support Protein Chemistry Service
Workflow & Informatics
Automation Systems DxA 5000 Total Lab Automation DxA 5000 Fit Automation System Advanced Informatics Remisol Advance Middleware Remote Services & Diagnostics
Solutions For
Antimicrobial Resistance Advantaged Workflows Pioneering Digital Hematology Neurology High Sensitivity Diagnostics Host Response to Infection Cardiovascular Disease IDBV Solutions Diabetes Diagnostics Drug Monitoring & Detection Sepsis
Support
Back
Support
Account Support
Create Account Manage Account Settings View All Account Support
Product Support
DxS Service In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) Manage My Technical Documents Search for Technical Documents Safety Data Sheets (SDS/MSDS) Search for Software Downloads Technical Documents Overview Manage My Regulatory Notifications Manage My Warranties & Agreements Request Instrument Support View Services Information View All Product Support Access Quality Assurance Programs
Ordering Support
Order Status & Tracking Track My Invoices View Return/RMA Policy Get Help with Orders View All Ordering Support
Resources
Back
Resources
Product Training
Browse Learning Lab › Learning Lab Login ›
Education & Research
Webinars Posters
Insights
Clinical Studies & Trends Case Studies Publications
Company
Back
Company
People & Culture
Overview Sustainability Meet Our Teams Diversity + Inclusion How We Work History and Innovation
Careers
Job Search › Programs & Grants Office Locations
News & Events
Awards & Recognition Newsroom Blog Events Calendar

Home / Clinical Laboratory Diagnostic Products and Solutions / Hematology / Hematology Research Parameters
Advanced parameters hematology header

Hematology Research Parameters

Hematology research parameters are ‘for research use only’ and provide new insights into red and white blood cell morphology. They can enable a variety of scientific research studies and provide research information about blood components and disorders. For detailed studies with unique and rich data sets, hematology research parameters include extended 3D scatter plots and numerical-value assignment of cell subpopulations with characteristic shapes.

Research Use Only (RUO) Parameters*

Hematology research only parameters are not for diagnostic purposes. Researchers around the globe use hematology research parameters in scientific research studies to better understand cellular morphological changes.

*Research Use Only. Not for use in In Vitro Diagnostic procedures.

Early Granulated Cells

What is the Early Granulated Cells Parameter?

  • Early Granulated Cells (@EGC) comprise young granulocytes, specifically promyelocytes, myelocytes and metamyelocytes. Researchers also refer to @EGC as immature granulocytes (IG), cells that have not fully developed in the bone marrow before being released into the bloodstream1
  • Early granulocytes are enumerated from the differential measurement in cell volume (V), high-frequency conductivity (C) and five laser-light scatter angles (S) volume conductivity scatter (VCS) technology. Expressed as a percentage of total WBC events or as N X 103 cells/μL
Parameter Method Description
@EGC Derived from DIFF measurement in VCS technology Early Granulated Cell Percent
  • Early granulocytes enumerated from the DIFF VCS technology
  • Expressed as a percentage of total WBC events
@EGC# Calculated Early Granulated Cell Absolute Count
  • @EGC# = (@EGC × WBC)/100
  • Expressed as N × 103 cells/μL

How is @EGC used in research?

  • @EGCs are associated with a variety of physiological and pathological conditions
  • If Immature Granulocytes are present in the blood, they may be viewed as one of the “Research Use Only” parameters and may be included in the CBC-Diff analysis
Return to top

Red Blood Cell Size Factor

What is the Red Blood Cell Size Factor Parameter?

  • Red Blood Cell Size Factor (@RSf) may be used to characterize the size of red blood cells across the continuum of cell maturation, including immature and mature erythrocytes
  • @RSf is a parameter that combines the volume of erythrocytes and the volume of reticulocytes @RSf = square root (MCV × MRV)
Parameter Method Description
@RSF Calculated Red Blood Cell Size Factor
  • Characterizes the red cell size

How is @RSf used in research?

  • @RSf aids in the assessment of state of erythropoiesis
  • Because reticulocytes are larger than RBCs, @RSf increases as the proportion of reticulocytes increases2
Return to top

Low Hemoglobin Density

What is the Low Hemoglobin Density Parameter?

  • Low Hemoglobin Density (@LHD) is derived from CBC analysis and is based on calculation from Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
  • If MCHC is corrected, then @LHD uses the corrected value of MCHC
Parameter Method Description
@LHD Calculated Low Hemoglobin Density
  • Where d and Q are constants
  • Uses the corrected MCHC, when appropriate
  • Expressed as a percentage
 

How is @LHD used in research?

  • @LHD aids in understanding erythropoiesis status and may help identify the presence of hypochromic red blood cells
Return to top

Unghosted Red Cells

What is the Unghosted Red Cells Parameter?

  • Unghosted Red Cells (@UGC) are derived from reticulocyte analysis using VCS technology
  • It represents red cells that are incompletely cleared of hemoglobin (HGB) in preparation for the reticulocyte (RET) analysis in VCS technology
  • @UGC is expressed as a percentage of total Red Blood Count (RBC) events or as N × 103 cells/μL1
Parameter Method Description
@UGC Derived from RET measurements in VCS technology Unghosted Red Cell Percent
  • Red cells that are incompletely cleared of hemoglobin enumerated from the RET in VCS technology
  • Expressed as a percentage of total RBC events
@UGC# Derived from RET measurements in VCS technology Unghosted Red Cell Absolute Number
  • @UGC# = (@UGC × RBC)/100
  • Expressed as N × 106 cells/μL

How @UGC used in research?

  • @UGC is used to identify samples with abnormal RBC morphology (for example target cells) and/or RBCs with abnormal HGB
Return to top

Microcytic Anemia Factor

What is the Microcytic Anemia Factor Parameter?

  • Microcytic Anemia Factor (@MAF) is derived from CBC analysis and is based on calculation from HGB and MCV
  • If HGB and/or Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) is corrected, then @MAF uses the corrected values of HGB and MCV
  • Expressed without a unit label
Parameter Method Description
@MAF Calculated Microcytic Anemia Factor
  • @MAF = (HGB × MCV)/100
  • Uses the corrected HGB and/or MCV, when appropriate
  • Expressed without a unit label

How is @MAF used in research?

  • The @MAF calculation accounts for both cell size and hemoglobin content3
Return to top

Mean Sphered Cell Volume

What is the Mean Sphered Cell Volume Parameter?

  • Mean Sphered Cell Volume (@MSCV) is derived from reticulocyte analysis in VCS technology
  • It represents the mean volume of all sphered red cells (erythrocytes and reticulocytes) that are cleared of HGB in preparation for reticulocyte measurements (this preparation includes treatment with new methylene blue stain and hypoosmotic solution in strictly controlled conditions)
Parameter Method Description
@MSCV Derived from RET measurements in VCS technology Mean Sphered Cell Volume
  • Sphered red cells that are cleared of HGB in preparation for Retic measurements
  • Expressed in femtoliters (fL)

How is @MSCV used in research?

  • Can compare @MSCV with the Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) under hypo-osmotic conditions to investigate the behavior of some RBCs4

  • @MSCV aids in understanding physiology of spherocytes in peripheral blood

     

Return to top

Our Advanced Hematology Research Parameters Offer:

• Additional parameters that correspond to cell size and anisocytosis, internal composition of the cell and nucleus to cytoplasm ratio, granularity of the cytoplasm, and lobularity of the nucleus
• Multi-dimensional cellular analysis allowing for better identification of abnormal cells
• Proprietary data synthesis to yield deeper insights into cellular behavior

For research use only. Not for diagnostic purposes.

 
Hematology Laboratory Research

Continue Your Hematology Parameter Research

Download the DxH RUO Parameter Instructions for Use, which provides detailed information on how to review and access these parameters on DxH hematology analyzer.

Download

Research Use Only. Not for use in In Vitro Diagnostic procedures.

References

  1. The Cleveland Clinic. Granulocytes: Definition, Types & Function. November 5, 2021. Accessed December 13, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22016-granulocytes 
  2.  Urrechaga E. Clinical Utility of the New Beckman-Coulter Parameter Red Blood Cell Size Factor in the study of erithropoiesis. Int J Lab Hematol. 2009;31(6):623-629. doi:10.1111/j.1751-553X.2008.01088.x
  3.  Urrechaga E. Microcytic Anemia factor (MAf) in the Study of Iron Metabolism. Unpublished. 2010. doi:10.13140/rg.2.2.28543.00167
  4.  Chiron M, Cynober T, Mielot F, Tchernia G, Croisille L. The GEN.S: A Fortuitous Finding of a Routine Screening Test for Hereditary Spherocytosis. Hematol Cell Ther. 1999;41(3):113-116. doi:10.1007/s00282-999-0113-8 
 

 

Products
Support
Company Newsletter
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences
Stay Connected
Products
Support
Company
Newsletter
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences
Stay Connected

Information addressed to health professionals. The products presented on this site are for professional use only, and, where applicable, comply with the requirements of the IVD Directive 98/79 / EC. Instructions for use must be consulted before using these products.

 

© 2025 Beckman Coulter, Inc. All rights reserved. Beckman Coulter, the stylized logo, and the Beckman Coulter product and service marks mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Some products may not be available in your country or region. Please contact your Beckman Coulter sales representative or distributor for more information.

U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights - As per GSA ADP Schedule Contract with Beckman Coulter, Inc., the use, duplication or disclosure is restricted as follows: Beckman Coulter hereby authorizes user to copy those documents published on the World Wide Web by Beckman Coulter, for noncommercial use, and only within the user's organization. Except as expressly provided above, nothing contained herein shall be construed as granting any license or right under any Beckman Coulter copyright. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as granting by implication, estoppel or otherwise any license or right under any patent or trademark of Beckman Coulter or any third party.