Performance Benchmarking of Hematology Instrument Systems - Westgard QC

Tools, Technologies and Training for Healthcare Laboratories

Performance Benchmarking of Hematology Instrument Systems

Starting in 2024, Westgard QC began collecting and analyzing data from multiple laboratories across the US and Canada, applying the new CLIA 2025 performance goals and other quality goals to characterize the competitive market.

 Sigma metric Performance of Hematology Instrument Systems

March 2026
Sten Westgard, MS

 

Starting in 2024, when CLIA announced the updating of proficiency testing criteria, Westgard QC, with the support and assistance of Beckman Coulter, began gathering hematology instrument performance data from labs across the USA and Canada. The most recent summary and distillation of this data was completed in August, 2025. 

The laboratory data was gathered with the promise of anonymity. Individual laboratories were given their own Sigma metric assessments, and comparison to the overall collected dataset, as it evolved. Thus, in the table and graph, the state of the laboratory is used, with instrument designation, and some separating individual identifiers.

Imprecision data was taken from cumulative SD estimates of the hematology controls Bias was determined used a comparison of laboratory cumulative mean to the peer group cumulative mean, when possible, and comparison against an assayed or target value, when not. CLIA 2025 hematology goals were used, but for the analytes (differentials) that are directly regulated by CLIA, other resources for goals were used, most frequently the ESQEFA goals. You can see all the hematology goals on this page.

The summary of results is presented as a Sigma metric "Heat Map", which denotes the relative percentage of each instrument's menu that fall into different Sigma categories.

2026 3 20 hematology performance comparison heat map

Instrument, State and unique identifier  <3 Sigma 3 Sigma 4 Sigma 5 Sigma 6 Sigma Optimizable
DxH 800 MD 27 C 3.7 0 14.81 11.11 70.37 96.29
HGM ME 36 B 0 5.56 11.11 11.11 72.22 94.44
DxH 900 PA 27 He 2 0 7.41 11.11 25.93 55.56 92.6
DxH 900 PA 27 3-4 7.41 3.7 14.81 7.41 66.67 88.89
HGM ME 36 B 2.78 8.33 11.11 13.89 63.89 88.89
DxH 900 PA 27 Ro 1 0 11.11 18.52 14.81 55.56 88.89
DxH 900 PA 27 Ro 3 3.7 7.41 11.11 22.22 55.56 88.89
DxH 900 PA 27 3-6 0 11.11 11.11 14.81 62.96 88.88
DxH 800 MD 27 B 3.7 7.41 11.11 14.81 62.96 88.88
DxH 900 PA 27 3-2 0 14.81 18.52 11.11 55.56 85.19
DxH 900 PA 27 Ha 1 11.11 3.7 18.52 11.11 55.56 85.19
DxH 900 PA 27 3-7 3.7 11.11 14.81 7.41 62.96 85.18
DxH 900 PA 27 3-5 3.7 11.11 14.81 18.52 51.85 85.18
DxH 800 MD 27 A 3.7 11.11 11.11 11.11 62.96 85.18
Canada DxH5 10.26 5.13 10.26 15.38 58.97 84.61
DxH3 12.9 3.23 12.9 12.9 58.06 83.86
DxH 900 PA 24 3-3 8.33 8.33 12.5 20.83 50 83.33
HGM ME 36 F 0 16.67 13.81 16.67 52.78 83.26
Canada DxH0 15.38 2.56 15.38 10.26 56.41 82.05
Canada DxH4 15.38 7.69 15.38 15.38 51.28 82.04
DxH 900 PA 27 3-1 7.41 11.11 11.11 11.11 59.26 81.48
HGM ME 36 A 5.56 13.89 19.44 5.56 55.56 80.56
HGM ME 36 E 8.33 11.11 19.44 11.11 50 80.55
1 5.56 16.67 2.78 8.33 66.67 77.78
HGM ME 36 D 11.11 11.11 11.11 11.11 55.56 77.78
DxH 900 PA 27 Ro 2 3.7 18.52 11.11 18.52 48.15 77.78
DxH 900 PA 27 Ro 4 14.81 7.41 11.11 7.41 59.26 77.78
DxH 900 PA 27 Ha 2 11.11 11.11 11.11 14.81 51.85 77.77
DxH 900 S 7.41 14.81 11.11 22.22 44.44 77.77
DxH1 12.9 9.68 6.45 22.58 48.39 77.42
DxH 900 3 16.67 7.14 11.9 7.14 57.14 76.18
Canada DxH3 15.38 10.26 10.26 15.38 48.72 74.36
Canada DxH7 15.38 10.26 10.26 12.82 51.28 74.36
DxH 900 PA 27 He 1 0 25.93 14.81 11.11 48.05 73.97
Canada DxH8 12.82 12.82 7.69 10.26 56 73.95
Canada DxH1 20.51 7.69 12.82 10.26 48.72 71.8
DxH 900 1 14.29 14.29 7.14 9.52 54.76 71.42
DxH 900 4 19.05 9.52 9.32 9.52 52.38 71.22
DxH2 6.45 22.58 16.13 3.23 51.61 70.97
Canada DxH2 20.51 10.26 7.69 15.38 46.15 69.22
DxH 900 PA 27 3-8 22.22 11.11 14.81 3.7 48.15 66.66
DxH pa 2-2 20 13.33 10 13.33 43.33 66.66
DxH pa 2-1 10 26.67 16.67 6.67 40 63.34
DxH pa 2-3 30 6.67 10 6.67 46.67 63.34
DxH 900 2 19.05 19.05 7.14 9.52 45.24 61.9
DxH pa 2 33.33 10 6.67 6.67 43.33 56.67
DxH pa 1 40 13.33 13.33 10 33.33 56.66
DxH pa 2-4 21.67 30 13.33 3.33 26.67 43.33
            0
LA Pentra XL 27.78 11.11 13.89 8.33 38.89 61.11
             
Sysmex XN paper 53.33 6.67 0 6.67 33.33 40
XN 350 Netherlands 33.33 10 10 10 36.67 56.67
Malaysia XN10-1 26.67 0 20 20 33.33 73.33
AR XN-10-NWA1 24.44 15.56 4.44 13.33 42.22 59.99
XN-10-LS2 20 8.89 11.11 13.33 46.67 71.11
XN-10B 20 6.67 6.67 20 46.67 73.34
XN-10-2 20 8.89 11.11 17.78 42.22 71.11
XN 10 IL 2 19.05 11.9 16.67 7.14 45.24 69.05
XN-10-LS1 19.05 7.14 9.52 21.43 42.86 73.81
XN 10 IL 1 16.67 11.9 11.9 19.05 40.48 71.43
IL XN-10A 15.56 11.11 13.33 17.78 42.22 73.33
IL XN-10C 15.56 13.33 15.56 11.11 44.44 71.11
XN-10-1 13.33 15.56 11.11 17.78 42.2 71.09
XN-10-3 13.33 6.67 11.11 20 48.89 80
XN-10-4 13.33 13.33 11.11 8.89 53.33 73.33
AR XN-10-NWA2 11.11 20 8.89 11.11 48.89 68.89
Malaysia XN10-2 6.67 33.33 13.33 13.33 33.33 59.99

Let us know what you're interested in!

Please use this form to request more information about.

Westgard Products and Services.

Invalid Input
Invalid Input
Invalid Input
Invalid Input