The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for preparing linearity control slides to verify linearity of image-based hematology analyzers without the need to make such control slides over and over again for each analyzer each time the analyzer is verified.

A method for measuring concentrations of blood cell components is provided. The method comprises: obtaining a blood sample from a subject, the blood sample comprising at least one of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets (PLTs); mixing the blood sample with a non-lysing aqueous solution to form a sample mixture comprising a predetermined tonicity; passing the sample mixture through a flow cell; emitting light towards the flow cell; measuring at least one of an amount of light absorbed by the RBCs to obtain an RBC absorption value, an amount of light scattered by WBCs to obtain a WBC scatter value, and an amount of light scattered by PLTs to obtain a PLT scatter value; and determining a concentration of at least one of the RBCs, WBCs, and PLTs present in the sample mixture.

Methods and apparatuses relating to measuring sample parameters and cell parameters (e.g., cell size, cell shape) are provided herein. The present disclosure provides additional methods, systems and techniques for improving osmotic gradient generating systems for vise in technologies to accurately determine red blood cell volume and the osmolality at which cells achieve a maximum volume.

Systems and methods analyzing body fluids contain cells including blood, bone marrow, urine, vaginal tissue, epithelial tissue, tumors, semen, and spittle are disclosed. The systems and methods utilize an improved technique for applying a monolayer of cells to a slide and generating a substantially uniform distribution of cells on the slide. Additionally aspects of the invention also relate to systems and method for utilizing multi-color microscopy for improving the quality of images captured by a light receiving device.

A sample analyzer with an optical detection device and a sample analysis method of the sample analyzer are disclosed. The optical detection device includes a fluid chamber, a light source and a light detector. The fluid chamber includes an illumination zone. An analyte flows through the illumination zone so as to form a sample stream. The light source illuminates the illumination zone to excite cell articles, reacted with a reagent, of the sample stream to emit a light signal. The light detector detects the fluorescent lights and transforms it into an electric signal. The light detector can include a silicon photomultiplier.

A method for analyzing nucleated red blood cells in a blood sample includes obtaining fluorescence signals and scattered light signals of cells in a blood sample; classifying and counting ghost particles, white blood cells, and nucleated red blood cells in the blood sample according to the fluorescence signals and the scattered light signals; obtaining a characteristic value of a characteristic particle population related to the nucleated red blood cells; and ascertaining a final nucleated red blood cell detection result according to the classifying and counting result of the nucleated red blood cells and the characteristic value of the characteristic particle group.

Apparatus and methods are provided including imaging a blood sample that is a cell suspension deposited in a sample chamber. The cells are allowed to settle in the sample chamber to form a monolayer of cells. At least one microscopic image is acquired of the monolayer of cells using a microscope (24) while the microscope is focused at a monolayer-depth-level, and a first platelet count of platelets that have settled within the monolayer, is determined. An additional microscopic image of the simple is acquired, while the microscope is focused at a different depth level from the monolayer-depth-level, and a second platelet count of platelets that have not settled within the monolayer is determined. An output is generated based upon the first and second platelet counts. Other applications are also described.

Disclosed is a disease differentiation support method for supporting disease differentiation, the disease differentiation support method including: obtaining a first parameter obtained by analyzing an image including a cell contained in a sample collected from a subject; obtaining a second parameter regarding a number of cells contained in the sample; and generating, by using a computer algorithm, differentiation support information for supporting disease differentiation, on the basis of the first parameter and the second parameter.

The invention relates to a method for detecting a dengue infection in a patient blood sample, comprising the steps: a) Performing an analysis of prespecified parameters of blood platelets and prespecified types of blood cells in the sample and determining parameter values for the prespecified parameters of the platelets and the prespecified types of cells; b) Obtaining sample parameters from the values determined in step a); and c) Evaluating the sample parameters in relation to a prespecified criterion, wherein, if the criterion is fulfilled, a dengue infection is present.

An apparatus (1) for determining quality of a platelet concentrate (PC) (15) in a PC bag (10) comprises a movable bag holder (2) to carry the PC bag (10), a light system (20) with a light source (21, 24) to direct light (22) into the platelet concentrate (15) in the PC bag (10) for a measurement interval, and a detector system (30) with a light detector (31, 32) configured to detect light (23) from the platelet concentrate 15 during the measurement interval and generate a real-time detection signal. The apparatus (1) also comprises a controller (40) configured to determine platelet swirling based on the real-time detection signal and determine a quality parameter for the platelet concentrate (15) in the PC bag (10) based on the platelet swirling.