| Abstrak/Abstract |
Dengue fever is a major problem in many developing countries, including Indonesia. Laboratory examination is used to
diagnose dengue infection and to monitor disease progression. Hematology tests, such as platelet count, are also used
for timely recognition of the development of severe dengue. In
primary health care centers platelet counting is typically performed manually, which is labor intensive and requires an
experienced laboratory technician. To address this challenge,
we have developed an automatic platelet counter for primary
health care and resource-poor settings. The technology is
based on a conventional microscope equipped with a digital
camera linked to a personal computer, which can capture and
analyze microscope images of blood samples. To evaluate the
accuracy of the technology, it was compared to platelet counts
performed manual by an experienced laboratory technician.
Statistical analysis shows no difference between the techniques with a kappa coefficient of 0.6. This method is judged
to have great potential as a tool to help primary health centers and other facilities with limited resources to deal with the
burden of dengue |
