Advia hematology analyzer

RDW was measured during the entire study period as part of the routine haematological tests using the Advia Hematology Analyzer (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Deerfield, IL, USA) according to the formula: RDW = (Coefficient of Variability of RBC ÷ mean MCV) × 100. Periodic quality checks were performed as part of the clinical laboratory accreditation requirements. As RDW is associated with anaemia, we verified whether our patients were anaemic on admission. Reference values for RDW in our hospital are between 11.6% and 14.6% for the adult population, but evaluation of RDW abnormality was age-adjusted: when we considered the RDW as a dichotomous variable (normal/abnormal) we used the age-specific normal values [18 (link)].

All participants completed a questionnaire to describe any side effect after vaccination such as fever, headache, bleeding tendency, cutaneous bleeding, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain. Blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes (Greiner Bio-One) for the analysis of platelet counts, which was performed on a Sysmex hematology analyzer (Sysmex) at UNN and on an ADVIA hematology analyzer (Siemens Healthineers) at Østfold Hospital. Blood samples were also collected in tubes containing 3.2% sodium citrate (Greiner Bio-One) that were centrifuged for 20 minutes at 2000 g at room temperature within 1 hour to prepare platelet poor plasma, and aliquots were stored at −80°C until analyzed.