: A comparative study between glacial acetic acid and citrofortunella aurantifolia (key lime) extract as white blood cell diluting fluid in leukemic blood samples [author]Acosta, Marier Divine L., Arias, Shaira Angela B., Bringas, Manuel Alexander II B., Esguerra, John Leuvin C. Grande, Allyssa Marie B., Licup, Roni Margaret N., Macapallag, Maria Amor, Maningas, Andrea Beatrice A., Mendoza, Ma. Andrea Dominique L., Nava, Zoe Maree D., Perez, John Renmar C.

Includes Appendix

ABSTRACT:
Accurate white blood cell (WBC) counting lies in establishing a definitive WBC diluting fluid. The study undertakes a comparative analysis between glacial acetic acid, an established WBC diluting fluid, and Citrofortunella aurantifolia (key lime) extract in terms of their ability to lyse red blood cells (RBCs), preserve WBC visibility, and facilitate WBC counting. The participants' blood samples were divided into two: a control group (healthy individuals), and an experimental group (a patient diagnosed with leukemia). The key lime extract was subjected to a dilution process with normal saline solution (NSS) in three different ratios - 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4. The key lime and NSS solution were centrifuged at 5,000 rpm for 5 minutes, collecting the supernatant as the diluting fluid. The blood samples collected from participants were treated with C. aurantifolia diluting fluid and commercially prepared 2% glacial acetic acid. The samples were examined by two registered medical technologists using a counting chamber and graded according to their efficiency of RBC lysis, WBC visibility, and WBC count to assess both diluting
fluids. A1:2 dilution of key lime extract (lmL key lime extract: 2mL NSS) demonstrated nearly the same effect as glacial acetic acid. The researchers concluded that key lime extract was comparable to glacial acetic acid in preserving WBC visibility and facilitating WBC count. However, it was not as efficient as commercially prepared glacial acetic acid, particularly in the
lysis of RBCs. Further, the efficacy is limited only for samples with blood counts within normal range, and not for leukemic samples due to its high WBC count.
Keywords: Blood Cell Analysis, Hematology, Red Blood Cell Lysis, White Blood Cell Counting

School of Medical Technology