The present invention provides methods and systems to combine the capabilities of a hematology analyzer with those of a flow cytometer to yield a far more powerful analytical system than either device alone. In one embodiment, a method of analyzing a cell sample includes receiving a first data generated by an analysis of a first aliquot of the sample on a first particle analyzer having a fluorescence measurement device such as a flow cytometer, detecting at least one unresolved cell population in the first data, and accessing a second data stored on a storage device wherein the second data was previously generated by interrogating a second aliquot of the sample using at least one of a cell volume measurement device and a cell conductivity measurement device in a second particle analyzer such as a hematology analyzer. The unresolved cell population in the first data is then resolved using the second data. Corresponding system embodiments are also disclosed.

A nanopore device measures a current signal Is that flows through the nanopore device, which has an aperture and an electrode pair. A transimpedance amplifier converts the current signal Is into a voltage signal Vs. A voltage source is configured to apply a DC bias voltage Vb across the electrode pair in a normal measurement mode, and to apply a calibration voltage Vcal across the electrode pair in a calibration mode. In the calibration mode, at least one circuit constant of a measurement apparatus is calibrated based on the output signal Vs of the transimpedance amplifier and the calibration voltage Vcal.

According to one embodiment, a particle inspection system includes a voltage driving circuit which applies a driving voltage for a particle inspection to a particle inspection chip, a current-voltage conversion circuit which converts, into a voltage signal, a current signal output from the particle inspection chip when the driving voltage is applied to the particle inspection chip, a detection circuit which detects, based on the voltage signal, whether the sample liquid is introduced into a detection region of the particle inspection chip, and an analysis circuit which analyzes the fine particle, in the sample liquid based on the voltage signal. The voltage driving circuit varies the driving voltage based on the detection result of the detection circuit.

According to one embodiment, a particle inspection system includes a voltage driving circuit which applies a driving voltage for a particle inspection to a particle inspection chip, a current-voltage conversion circuit which converts, into a voltage signal, a current signal output from the particle inspection chip when the driving voltage is applied to the particle inspection chip, a detection circuit which detects, based on the voltage signal, whether the sample liquid is introduced into a detection region of the particle inspection chip, and an analysis circuit which analyzes the fine particle, in the sample liquid based on the voltage signal. The voltage driving circuit varies the driving voltage based on the detection result of the detection circuit.

This disclosure relates to methods and devices to count particles of interest, such as cells. The methods include obtaining a fluid sample that may contain particles of interest; counting all types of particles in a portion of the sample using a first electrical differential counter to generate a first total; removing any particles of interest from the portion of the fluid sample; counting any particles remaining in the portion of the fluid sample using a second electrical differential counter after the particles of interest are removed to generate a second total; and calculating a number of particles of interest originally in the fluid sample by subtracting the second total from the first total, wherein the difference is the number of particles of interest in the sample. These methods and related devices can be used, for example, to produce a robust, inexpensive diagnostic kit for CD4+ T cell counting in whole blood samples.

This disclosure relates to methods and devices to count particles of interest, such as cells. The methods include obtaining a fluid sample that may contain particles of interest; counting all types of particles in a portion of the sample using a first electrical differential counter to generate a first total; removing any particles of interest from the portion of the fluid sample; counting any particles remaining in the portion of the fluid sample using a second electrical differential counter after the particles of interest are removed to generate a second total; and calculating a number of particles of interest originally in the fluid sample by subtracting the second total from the first total, wherein the difference is the number of particles of interest in the sample. These methods and related devices can be used, for example, to produce a robust, inexpensive diagnostic kit for CD4+ T cell counting in whole blood samples.

A blood measuring device control method, the device including a sample preparing part that prepares a measurement sample by mixing a blood sample and a reagent, and a measuring part that measures the measurement sample, where the method includes preparing the reagent by mixing a high concentration reagent and pure water; and performing a washing operation by washing sites of the blood measuring device least affecting the measurement results of the measurement sample with pure water, and washing sites of the blood measuring device affecting the measurement results of the measurement sample with the reagent.

A sensor for particle identification includes a first chamber configured to be filled with an electrolytic solution; a first electrode provided inside the first chamber and configured to be connected to an external power supply for applying a voltage; a second chamber configured to be filled with the electrolytic solution; a second electrode provided inside the second chamber and configured to be connected to the external power supply; a data output configured to output measurement data expressing an ion current generated between the first electrode and the second electrode; a partition separating the first chamber and the second chamber; and a presentation device for providing a unique identifier to an external computer device over a network.

A sensor for particle identification includes a first chamber configured to be filled with an electrolytic solution; a first electrode provided inside the first chamber and configured to be connected to an external power supply for applying a voltage; a second chamber configured to be filled with the electrolytic solution; a second electrode provided inside the second chamber and configured to be connected to the external power supply; a data output configured to output measurement data expressing an ion current generated between the first electrode and the second electrode; a partition separating the first chamber and the second chamber; and a presentation device for providing a unique identifier to an external computer device over a network.

A sample analyzer prepares a measurement sample from a blood sample or a body fluid sample which differs from the blood sample; measures the prepared measurement sample; obtains characteristic information representing characteristics of the components in the measurement sample; sets either a blood measurement mode for measuring the blood sample, or a body fluid measurement mode for measuring the body fluid sample as an operating mode; and measures the measurement sample prepared from the blood sample by executing operations in the blood measurement mode when the blood measurement mode has been set, and measuring the measurement sample prepared from the body fluid sample by executing operations in the body fluid measurement mode that differs from the operations in the blood measurement mode when the body fluid measurement mode has been set, is disclosed. A computer program product is also disclosed.