Abstract
While neutrophil ratios and counts are being examined in basic laboratory tests, standards and reference ranges for morphological findings in this area have yet to be established. In October 2013, the JSLH Sub-committee for the Standardization of Blood Cell Morphology presented a new proposal (new JSLH proposal) for the differentiation of band and segmented neutrophils, combining the Japanese Association of Medical Technologists and Japanese Society for Laboratory Hematology proposals so as to be more appropriate for daily service styles. In December 2013, the JAMT and JSLH reached an agreement to cooperate to generalize the new JSLH proposal, and organized a group for this purpose, consisting of 11 members, 6 and 5 from the JAMT and JSLH, respectively, and called: the Joint Working Group for the Standardization of Blood Cell Morphology (JWG). The JWG started its activities in FY 2014 to achieve the following goals: 1) conducting basic studies on the new JSLH proposal and verifying its clinical validity; 2) developing an atlas for the new JSLH proposal based on the results of 1) to generalize it on a nationwide basis through morphology seminars held by JAMT branches; and 3) establishing the new JSLH proposal as a classification method by promoting its use for accuracy management surveys and textbooks. Having achieved the first goal with satisfactory outcomes, the JWG is currently making efforts toward the achievement of the second one.
