Should a manual differential count be performed if immature granulocytes are present in a sample?

When evaluating whether a manual differential count should be performed in the presence of immature granulocytes, it's crucial to understand the significance of the findings and the clinical context. The presence of immature granulocytes often suggests an ongoing response to infection, inflammation, or other pathological conditions.

In cases where immature granulocytes are noted, a manual differential count is typically warranted to gain further insight into the underlying cause and to assess the morphology and maturation of the white blood cells. Specifically, option D highlights the necessity of additional testing when flags are raised, but it emphasizes the alert generated by immature granulocytes, which often requires further examination.

Choosing to proceed with a manual differential count enhances the capability to accurately characterize the white blood cell population beyond what automated methods capture. This includes not just counting but also assessing characteristics that could indicate specific clinical conditions.

On the other hand, indicating that a differential count is complete while there are no flags related to system or morphology misses the opportunity to clarify the implications of immature granulocytes present in the sample. This could overlook essential diagnostic information, and thus, a manual differential should indeed be considered valuable when such immature cells are detected.