Case Study: Operation of CBC+CRP Measurement Device in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine, and Pediatrics

Dr. Masaru Inoue
Inoue Clinic, Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Device Used: Automated Hematology and CRP Analyzer Microsemi LC-767CRP
Parameters: CBC, CRP

For a febrile patient, elevated white blood cell count, granulocyte count, and CRP levels allowed us to determine that the cause was a bacterial infection rather than COVID-19, providing reassurance to the patient.

What is your specialty?

Cardiology. I mainly treat patients with heart failure and hypertension.

How many patients do you see per day? Any recent trends?

Previously, about 60 to 100 patients per day, but since the COVID-19 outbreak, the number has decreased by about 10%.

How many CBC and CRP samples do you process daily?

On busy days, 7–8 samples per day, while on slow days, sometimes none. On average, 4–5 samples per day.

What changed after introducing LC-767CRP?

The automatic start-up and shutdown every morning saves nurses significant time and effort.

When do you perform CBC and CRP tests?

When patients visit the fever clinic, to determine whether the infection is bacterial or viral.
If COVID-19 is suspected, we request PCR or antigen testing, but CBC+CRP testing is the first step before that.

Can you share a case where CBC+CRP testing was helpful?

We use CBC+CRP to investigate the cause of fever. Among these cases, we identified six COVID-19 patients.
In all six cases, the initial results from the automated analyzer—WBC, CRP, and granulocytes—strongly suggested viral infection.
The automated hematology and CRP analyzer proved extremely effective for COVID-19 diagnosis.

Without the automated hematology and CRP analyzer, fever clinic operations would not be possible. This device is truly a powerful ally in my practice.

What data did you see in COVID-19 cases, and how did you use it?

In suspected cases, WBC and granulocytes were normal, CRP slightly elevated, suggesting viral infection. We then recommended PCR testing.

Why did you establish a fever clinic?

To quickly identify COVID-19 patients and prevent infection spread. We set up a separate entrance for fever patients and launched the fever clinic in April 2020.

What was the benefit of starting a fever clinic?

Being able to tell patients that their fever was due to bacterial infection, not COVID-19, was very helpful. Some patients reported that their workplace required a clear diagnosis before returning to work. By confirming high WBC, granulocytes, and CRP, we could diagnose bacterial infection and reassure patients.
Without this device, consultations would not be possible. It is truly a strong partner in my practice.

CBC: Complete Blood Count – measures red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and morphology to assess overall health.CRP: C-Reactive Protein – increases in blood during inflammation, useful for detecting infections.
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