Comparison of YD URiSCAN PluScope Urine Microscopic Analyzer and Sysmex UF-1000i Flow Cytometry Systems

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Urinalysis is one of the most commonly performed tests in clinical laboratories. In this study, we compared YD URiSCAN PluScope (PluScope; YD Diagnostics Corp., Korea) and Sysmex UF-1000i (UF-1000i; Sysmex Corp., Japan) for urine microscopic sediment analysis. METHODS: A total of 404 fresh urine samples were collected and analyzed using PluScope, UF-1000i, and manual microscopy. Quantitative correlation analyses for red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), epithelial cells (EC), and casts were performed using Spearman's correlation. We evaluated agreement among the three systems by using weighted Cohen's κ and calculating concordance rates within one grade of difference for semiquantitative and qualitative parameters. RESULTS: There were moderate-high correlations between PluScope and UF-1000i for RBCs, WBCs, and ECs (r=0.542, 0.714, and 0.571, respectively) but negligible correlation for casts (r=0.186). There were moderate-high correlations between manual microscopy and automated devices for RBCs, WBCs, and ECs (r=0.550–0.745) but negligible correlations for casts (PluScope r=0.247; UF-1000i r=0.223). The pairwise concordance rates within one grade difference among the three methods were good for RBCs, WBCs, and ECs (95.0%–99.0%, κ=0.41–0.74). For casts, the concordance rate between PluScope and manual microscopy was fair (96.8%, κ=0.25), but concordance rates between UF-1000i and manual microscopy and between the two automated devices were poor (81.2% and 81.7%; κ=0.04 and 0.06, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The two automated urine sediment analyzers showed a moderate-high correlation and concordance rate. They showed good correlations and concordance rates for RBCs, WBCs, and ECs. However, manual microscopic examinations are still needed for reviewing and confirming the presence of pathologic particles in urine, such as casts and crystals.