Neutrophil Volume, conductivity and scatter (VCS) as a screening tool in neonatal sepsis

The initial evaluation of a suspected sepsis in a neonate is always challenging. There are many methods to screen a neonate with suspected sepsis. One of newer method is to assess the changes in neutrophil volume conductivity and scatter. The objective of this study was to establish changes in Neutrophil volume conductivity scatter (VCS) in neonatal sepsis and to determine appropriate cut off levels using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Neonates with suspected sepsis were evaluated with blood counts, culture and neutrophil VCS parameters. Based on these parameters neonates were classified into sepsis group (Blood culture positive), Probable sepsis group (clinical course consistent with sepsis and positive sepsis screen and negative blood culture), No sepsis group (Clinical course not suggestive of sepsis with negative sepsis screen and blood culture). A total of 304 neonates were included in the study of which 144 were in sepsis group and 160 in no sepsis group respectively. Among the neutrophil VCS parameters there was significant difference between the groups with respect to mean neutrophil volume (MNV) and volume distribution width (VDW) (180 vs 163 vs 150) (p < 0.01). MNV and VDW had good sensitivity (95%, 82%) and specificity (86%, 74%) for diagnosis of sepsis. In conclusion, Neutrophil VCS parameters, especially MNV, can be incorporated with other sepsis screen parameters in diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.