Devices, systems, and methods herein relate to predicting infection of a patient. These systems and methods may comprise illuminating a patient fluid in a fluid conduit from a plurality of illumination directions, measuring an optical characteristic of the illuminated patient fluid using one or more sensors, and predicting an infection state of the patient based at least in part on the measured optical characteristic.

A particle separating and measuring device includes a first flow path device having a post-separation flow outlet to allow discharge of a first fluid containing target particles to be separated, and a second flow path device receiving the first flow path device and having a first flow inlet to receive the first fluid. The first flow path device having a lower surface with the post-separation flow outlet is on the second flow path device having an upper surface with the first flow inlet in a first region. The post-separation flow outlet faces and connects to the first flow inlet. The first flow inlet has an opening larger than an opening of the post-separation flow outlet. The opening of the post-separation flow outlet connects to the opening of the first flow inlet at a peripheral portion of the opening of the first flow inlet.

Devices and methods are described for measuring formed blood component sedimentation rate. Some of the methods may use (1) centrifugal techniques for separating red blood cells from plasma and (2) video and/or still imaging capability. Both may be used alone or in combination to accelerate formed blood component sedimentation and to measure its rate. In one example, the method may advantageously enable rapid measurement of sedimentation rate using small blood sample volumes. Automated image analysis can be used to determine both sedimentation rate and hematocrit. Automated techniques may be used to compensate for effects of hematocrit on uncorrected sedimentation rate data.

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods for detecting events in a flow cytometer. Also provided are methods of detecting cells in a flow cytometer. Other aspects of the present disclosure include methods for determining a level of contamination in a flow cell. Computer-readable media and systems, e.g., for practicing the methods summarized above, are also provided.

A cell observation system observes a cell moving in a flow path with a fluid, and includes a first imaging apparatus, a second imaging apparatus, and a control device. The first imaging apparatus includes a first optical system and a first imaging element, and captures an image of the cell at a first position in a moving direction. The second imaging apparatus includes a second optical system, in which a focus is adjusted based on a focus adjustment signal, and a second imaging element, and captures an image of the cell at a second position downstream of the first position. The control device obtains a passing position of the cell in a cross section of the flow path based on the image obtained by the first imaging element, generates the focus adjustment signal, and provides the signal to the second optical system.

The disclosure provides devices, device systems, and methods for analyzing cells (e.g., blood cells) or particles in a sample. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides various devices and device systems including: a light source; a collecting lens; and one, two, or more detectors. In other embodiments, the devices and device systems include a flow cell or a cartridge device with a flow cell. In further embodiments, the disclosure provides various methods including the steps of: using a light source to emit an irradiation light; using the irradiation light to illuminate a sample flow; using a collecting lens to collect both scattered light and fluorescent light from the sample flow; and using one, two, or more detectors to detect the collected scattered light and fluorescent light. Optionally, these methods include using a flow cell to form a sample flow.

A reagent container is disclosed that is installed in an analyzer for use and stores a reagent supplied to the analyzer via an aspiration tube. The reagent container includes a container body. The container body includes a tubular member with an opening into which the aspiration tube is inserted from above, and a bag-shaped member joined to the tubular member and storing the reagent. The container body comprises a penetration prevention member that prevents a tip of the aspiration tube 90 inserted through the opening from penetrating the container body.

Disclosed are devices and methods for analyzing an analyte, such as white blood cells in liquid samples.

The invention concerns a method for determining, by flow cytometry, the hemoglobin F (HbF) content of each erythroid cell of a set of erythroid cells. This method applies in particular to determining the HbF content of each red blood cell of a set of red blood cells. The invention also concerns a method for determining the amount of red blood cells transfused into a patient and for monitoring the therapeutic efficacy of a treatment for sickle cell disease or β-thalassemia.

The present disclosure provides methods for automated slide assessments made in conjunction with digital image-based microscopy. Automated methods of acquiring patient information and specimen information from prepared slides, and digitally linking such information into patient-tagged specimen data, are provided. Also provided are methods that include automatically identifying an optimal area for morphological assessment of a blood smear on a hematological slide, including methods for triggering the analysis of such an area, e.g., using an automated digital image-based hematology system. The present disclosure also provides devices, systems and computer readable media for use in performing processes of the herein described methods.